Four Outstanding Men: Chang Tso-lin and Feng Vu-hsiang: The Undefeated Wu Pei-fu and the Kuomintang By Gronce In the following summary of the political situation ix China an attempt has been ma weakness of each individual and each dut rather to define the inherent probabilities in each situation. To the foreign reader perhaps come of the detaile may appear useless, but they are given because for the frat time vince the founding of the Repu' war is in prospect in which internationd relations take more prominent place than domestic faire.
War rumours, reports of political changes and the general nervousness throughout China at this time concern the conduct of four personalities and their satellites and tone political party. The four personalities are more or less the same have held the centre of the stage since 1920, Tuan Chi-jui, Chang ea-lin, Feng Vu-hsiang, and Wu Pei-fu." All the fighting and political manauveing since the Chili-Anfa War has not really brought about. a single result. All the intrigue of five years has not made for a single step toward the reconstruction of the country, 'The issues which are discussed to-day, constitution or dictatorship, republic or monarchy, unification by force or by conference, centralized authority or provincial autonomy are identical with the jesues discussed every' year since the death of Yuan Shih-kai, The reneral_ international affiliate the various groups rem except that Ri la has again become factor and Were it not that any summary of the political situafion might end at this point. But the expectancy of more fighting, the horrifying effect of the war on the country and the harm it does to foreigners and foreign interests, perhaps justifies another effort toward analyzation of the problem and. a description of the current technique of the four principal me dividuals and of the one political rorty, the Kuomintang, Tuan's Lost Opportunity To begin with the present Chief Executive, Toan Chi-jul. Tt will be remembered that during the last war, Feng Vu-hsiang betrayed Wu Fel-fu at the moment of victory upon the inspiration of Tuan Chi-i, who was acting for Chang Tso-un, Marshal Tuan reaped the, benefit of Wu Pei-tu' defeat, He became the Chief Executive, placed Lis Anfu followers in. various offices, attempted to hold several provinces, particularly Kian Shantung. By a curious tance, Sun Yat-sen, the one political power which might have thwarted Tuan Chi-jui, became seriously. ill and eventually died. His death had the effect of paralyzing the, Huomintang temporarily effective check on Tuan Chi-jui.
Marshal Tuan had an exceptional opportunity to do a big thing. might have effectively reorganized. the government and placated the articulate, newspaper-reading masses, But his-tactics were of the old mandarin type. He called a rehabilitation conference, the mem-vers of which received $600 a month for talking. Win the talk was over, nothing had been accomplished, except the settlement of the Gold Frane Issue which is extremely unpopular throughout the country be: cause no one understands it, be-ise the government made money out of it, and because it is believed that the' notorious Little Hsu had, something to do with it. A huge fortune was apparently made by, those who held shares in the bank.
During his short tenure of office, Marshal Tuan countenanced a singularly corrupt government, which made money out of everything that happened and which refused to permit certain constructive measures, to become effective because there! was no money in them. The result. iw that the decision is practically unanimous among the other three principal figures and with the Kuomintang that Tuan Chi-jui shall ever be President and that he shall cease to be the Chief-Executive as soon as possibly. And therein lies the cause of the next war, for who to: succeed Tuan and how is what the next will be about. ernor of Fengtien, he has become a master of so much of China that directly controls from the northeastern frontier to Shauchai, the richest, most populous, most' profduetive and politically most important areas of China. His indirect influence is even greater, as he is in alliance with Wu Pei-fu of whom we power war ard money. tion of Manchuria has been rem able and has won him acclaim throughout the country. if not much, of the ered' success in Manchuria is due to the capable management of the South Manehuri tway, is admitted, but even that fact does not lessen abu He has gathered about him a group of capable men from many provinees, two of whom have returned to their native provinces: exeater than they left them, Li Ching-lin, Tupan of Chili, "and: Chang Chung-chang, Tupan of Shar tung. He has allied himeelf with the old Chiaotung clique, which, no matter how badly it erred with, regard to Yuan Shih-kai, is a party of able administrators. Li Ching-lin has now occupied Peking and is demanding Kalgan, which is a bold stroke. The death of Hu Ching-yi assisted Chang Tso-lin in extend-jing his sway along the Kinhan Railway where he meets the rezurrected power of Wu Pei-fu with only. ithe weak and nebulous Hsiao Yao-nan of Hupeh as a remotely possible bout politically improbable opponent.
In such a situation Chang Teo-lin feels that he is master of the whole of North China and that Feng Yuhheiang and the Kuominchun are impertinent impediments which might easily be brushed aside. He is wore than surprised at the unwill rigness of Tuan Chi-jui to obey him and as much as he dislikes herring the feelings of an old man or lessening the authority of one whom he placed in power, he begins to weary of Tuan Chi-jui and his entourage.
had been hoping that the internal affairs of the Kuomintang might have been settled by now and that those fire-brands would hav: rid him of Tuan and the Anfu incubus.
Tut' the Kuomintang not having. de stirred itself, he is about to do. the job himself, however with a. gentleness and finesse altogeth miike himeelf.
One plan Minister of Communications long Shih-yi to be Minister This would ce lessen power that he would have to resign, But whatever plan is used, Chang Tso-lin is coming out for the Constitution, He is going to say that China must be governed constitutionally, that Tuan and his] government and his plans are unconstitutional. If the first plan does not work the only other way to return to the Constitution is to allow Li Yuan-hung the only honestly-elected constitutional president, to complete the presidency.
Liang Shi perhaps Tsao Ju-lin or Lu Teung-Minister of Finance. The provinees will then be asked to send representatives to a new Parliament, which is quite correct and constitutional, and will end all talk of a People's Conference which is jan Anfu scheme. They are to vote for a President within 83 days and the only two possibilities being Li /Yaan-hung and Tong Shao-yi, Chang Zso-lin will have himself elected. After which, it is all to begin over again even as when Tsao Kun was elected President.
The Tariff Conference Ore of the main arguments Chang Teo-lin's Huge Sphere Ghang Tso-tin is inordinately ambitious. Rising from humble Eeginnings ata time when Hsu Ueih-chang was Viceroy of Mam ehburia and Tong Shao-yi was Gov-the Powers deal with a provisional government? Of course not. The
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