Conscious of the sentiment of the country and convinced that the urgent needs of China are the disbandment of superfluous soldiery and the establishment of a united and efficient government, I, last year, suggested a meeting of the principal political and military parties in conference having for its agenda the disbandment of troops throughout the country by general agreement and the subsequent employment of the men in productive works of public utility, the establishment of a Central Government which should receive the support of all the provinces and perform.the funetions and discharge the duties of an enlightened, progressive and democratic government, the agreement on a constructive programme for the Central Government. and the provinces, and the settlement of those political
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.