Peking, June 30.
Replying to 11 representatives of the Hupeh residents in Peking who demanded (1) The immediate dismissal of General Wang Chan-yuan, Tuchun of Hupeh; (2)—Confiscation of all General Wang's property; (3)—Payment of adequate compensation to all persons who suffered through the looting at Wuchang the Premier pointed out that when General Wang was in Peking he had given instructions for the disbandment of some of his troops in Wuchang, and before any steps had been taken in that direction by the officers at Wuchang who received the orders, news of the intended disbandment had leaked cut. A number of dissatisfied junior officers had then started the mutiny. The Premier added that the Tientsin Conference had resolved upon this disbandment, what was one of the main planks of his own policy. During his term of service he had disbanded 300,000 troops.
Tr Waxe were Removen.
The removal of General Wang Chan-yuan as the result of the mutiny would be offering a premium for the future mutinies of all troops threatened with disbandment. The Government fully recognized that slackness had been shown by the officials at Wuchang, for if proper precautions had been taken the mutiny could not have occurred. There were, however, 80,000 troops in Wuchang, under the command of General Wang and other commanding officers. If a new Tuchun were appointed now he would not be familiar with the real condition of these troops and trouble might be expected, in which the people would be the principal sufferers.
General wang had carried out certain preliminary measures in connexion with disbandment and reconstruction in general, and he was satisfied that no further disorders would occur. Therefore the Government had not decided upon the immediate removal of General Wang.
Tucnun's Property Untovcnaste.
With regard to the suggestion to confiscate General Wang's private property, that was a matter beyond the power either of the Presidency or the Cabinet. Confiscation of a man's property could be only effected by legal processes. The Ministry of War was conducting an official inquiry into the question of Genera] Wang's responsibility for the mutiny, and when full reports had been' furnished the Government would taken whatever action was shown to be necessary.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.