Peking, March 31.
The Mandate totally abandoning the Monarchy will be signed by Hsu Shibchang, late Secretary of State, who thus resumes office as a consequence of the step now tardily taken by Yuan Shih-kai. Other important personages are mentioned as likely to rejoin the Government.
Anything like a rally to the Government side of the more important men who have been holding aloof on account of their opposition to the Monarchy cannot but have a beneficial effect on the situation.
At the same time the abandonment comes very late in the day, and in view of the extension of the rebellion to Kuangsi the rebel leaders may regard their cause es sufficiently prosperous to warrant perseverance in their object of securing the removal of Yuan.
The disquieting news has reached Peking that Lung Chin-kuang has gone over to the Republicans with his force. Needless to conjecture as to the attitude of his brother, Lung Chi-kuang, is very busy.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.