On the eve of the New Year Mr. Liang Shih-yi, whose reputation for financial ability is a commonplace, had - succeeded General Chin Yun-peng as Premier and immediately announced a course of cutting down of bureaucratic sinecures and super: finities. On January 2 a presidential mandate appeared pardoning the Anfuite generals who had been sheltering in the Japanese Legation since the overthrow of General Tuan Chi-jui and the Anfu Government in July, 1920. This and the popular belief that Mr. Liang was merely the tool of Chang Tso-lin, the Manchurian Warlord, stimulated the opposition to his Premiership headed by General Wu Pei-fu but undoubtedly supported by large sections of the country. On January 10 General Wu was reported to be moving troops-from Hupeh towards Peking. On January 13 he sent an ultimatum to Mr. Liang giving him- three days in which to resign, and followed this with another on the lst, this demand being endorsed by Kiangsu. Kiangsi, Hupeh, Shantung and Shensi. On January 25 Mr. Liang was granted the usual sick leave and on the 26th sent in his resignation. He was
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.