Peking, June 29.
While Wu Pei-fu's larger policy of reunion through the removal of the obstructionist elements has been carrying the nation rapidly towards internal peace, in spite of all political factions rather than with their help, it must not be supposed that petty politics are dead in China. In fact, with the rettirn of peace in the North, there has been such a recrudescence of petty politics that those who cannot see the wood for the trees grow more pessimistic from day to day. In fact many who have had their own ideas of what Wu Pei-fu ought to have done, see neither woods nor trees but only a mire ahead with the general sinking in it up to his ears and they feel impelled to run and tell him how he is about to be overwhelmed by the machinations of this group that.
The bigger issues have been lost sight of so completely here in Peking that it is very difficult to detach oneself from the schemes and counter schemes which absorb everyone's attention and maintain the point of view of Paotingfu, a point of view which will probably be still easier te define in Loyang. If one ds in taking a broad and optimistic view of the situation, he is then in danger of being too indifferent to the political game as it works out in Peking and, since it now appears that there are some very' bitter and determined gamesters participate ing, this would be foolish.
Tf one checks over the groups of professional politicians, both civil and military, it is easy to come to the conclusion that there is not one here in Peking sincerely in favour - of Wu's reunification scheme, therefore not one that is not resentful of Wu's policy and not one that is not busily at work to defeat his plans either in detail or in the whole. The writer has already explained why reunification, patronized by Wu Pei-fu from Loyang, is discomfiting to the Tuchunate and also to the various elements in the present temporary government in Peking. The particular motives and_policies of each group which is working against Wu Pei-fu particularly and his idea of reunion in general have yet to be defined. Some are not clearly manifest, others are already working in the open. It may be interesting to know in outline how they are lining up in Peking.
Taso aw a CATSPAW.
In the "rst place Tsao Kun's brothers, relatives, officers and political dependents are full of a bitter resentment against Wu Pei-fu for subordinating Tsao Kun to his schemes and for undermining their influence in both Chihli_provincial and national affairs. They want their war lord back, not only as the supreme dictator of petty politics in Chihli but also as the head of a Chihli_ military party bringing a direct influence to bear upon national affairs. Tsao Jui, whom Wu Pei-fu ejected from the civil governorship of Chihli, and Chairman Pien of the provincial assembly, are therefore working overtime to reorganize the Chibli party on such lines that Tsao Kun will again be the leader, Chi Hsieh-yuan his right bower and Wu Pei-fu's division commanders their obedient servants. This would relegate Wu Pei-fu to the position of division commander again, either subordinate to Tsao Kun in politics or out in the cold altogether.
To this end it has been their earnest desire to play upon Tsao Kun's injured vanity and family pride to a sufficient degree to prompt him to quarrel with Wu Peitfu and challenge his assumption of the leadership of the big Chihli army. The appeal to the Chihli Tuchun and_ the division commanders is that Wu is smashing the rice bowls of the militarists, that his schemes lead directly to the collapse of the Tuchunate in the first place, to disbandment in the second place and to the subordination of the commanders who are left to a central control as units in a national army. These are serious charges and may make an appeal in many quarters, for it is not to be supposed that all of Wu's officers are as disinterested as he is.
ATTEMPT TO Emproi, Wu any Tsao.
The first open move in this campaign came a few days ago when Tsao Kun went to Wu Pei-fu and asserted his rights. The newspapers of all factions made the most of this and nearly all of them patted Tsao Kun on the back and encouraged him to stand up for himself and his' friends. Wu's imminent return to Loyang is made to appear as a_ withdrawal before Tsao Kun's wrath. The Chinputang papers are particularly jubilant and tell how Wu Pei-fu enjoyed the hospitality of Tsao Kun's flower garden and_ then betrayed his host by adopting many political measures without even consulting his old master. Tsao is the injured superior whose leniency and indulgence have been exploited by his ambitious little underling.
This would be amusing if it did not prove a sinister combination against Wu Pei-fu. Tsao Kun's folk have attempted to organize a new Chihli military party which will exclude Wu, and have taken into their confidence the Chin-puting leaders as their political advisers. When ex-President Hsu Shih-chang left Peking it became immediately apparent that he was exerting himself to foment a breach between Wu Pei-fu and Tsao Kun and now the Chinputang is in it. It is a little league of the Mandarins and the soldiers who believe that the military caste should guard its privileges. The writer yesterday received the following note from a sagacious Chinese who has a thumb upon the Chinputang pulse "Have you heard anything about the alleged quarrel between Wu Pei-fu and Tsao Kun? The Chinputang fellowa are evidently anxious that there should be a quarrel. They are doing their best 0 drag Wu into every scandal in Peking end the 'Confusion Party' people are trying to get hold of the premiership. Chang Kuo-kan is their leader.''
If there were any danger that Ww's more efficient commanders would be a party'to this conspiracy and support Tsao Kun the situation would be dangerous. His highest officers say there is no such danger. As a military factor they say that Tsao Kun is finished and that his subordinates in trying
Tsao and Wu are only driving Tsao force an open breach between to political suicide. If this attitude is well grounded then, from the point of view of the outsider, it will be most decidedly to the nation's advantage to foster this quarrel; and Hsu Shih-chang, the Chinputang and Tsao Jui's following will be rendering the nation a service if they can crowd Wu Pei-fu to the wall and force him to turn on Tsao Kun. The one big ally upon whom they are counting is Chi Hsieh-yuan, Tuchun—of Kiangsu. If there is any Tuchun in China who knows how to keep clear of falling timbers it is he, so he is the least likely to put his prop under a tottering Tsao Kun.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.