Peking, May 1.
On Friday last the Tientsin negotiations suddenly became acrimonious. Interest had been centring on the projected expeditions against Dr. Sun Yat-sen and against Urga, and the principle was adopted that Tsao Kun should arrange the former and Chang Tso-lin the latter, but the question of finance appeared insurmountable. Then the Minister of Finance. Chow Tzu-chi, definitely announced his intention ~of retiring forthwith, whereupon the Premier put forward Tsao Jui, the civil governor of Chihli, to succeed Chow) Tzu-chi, but Chang Tso-lin and Wang Chuan-yuan raised objections. The discussions then became heated, Chang Tso-lin and the Premier both talking of leaving conference.
Calmer counsels prevailed yesterday afternoon but the atmosphere is still electric. It appears that while the question of disbandment was discussed on one hand, expeditions calling for large funds which are not available were contemplated on the other. The appointment of a new Minister of Finance will not alter the financial position and it remains to be seen whether the present ruling group will abandon its financially impossible schemes or wind up the conference.
Meanwhile, what is true to-day may be untrue to-morrow, and the only real probability is the compromise which averted the disrupt tion of the conference on Tuesday-—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.