The Waning Boycott—Japan and the Chinese Eastern Railway—The Citizens' Convention After the lapse of a month or so, since General Wu Pei-fu first suggested the possibility of holding a National Citizens' Convention by which the questions now in dispute between North and South and other national problems should be solved, the Chinese people, inherently conservative and patient appear at last to be showing some interest= in this proposal. Some enlightened merchants and scholars have held several "conversations" and formed associations to tackle the question. It is admittedly a large order, as regards the acceptance of which any other people might well have evinced some degree of hesitancy; for the task that would be assigned to such a Convention to perform might prove too hard a nut for it'to crack. en at the outset, one can well imagine, discouraging difficulties are looming ahead with regard to the evolution of a mode of procedure to be adopted in the election of such a representative body that would be satisfactory, or at least—aceeptable, to all classes and objected to by none. However, as we have already noted, societies have been formed to discuss all simple as well as all knotty points to devise means to overcome obstacles, if any, and to take other steps that may appear necessary to expedite the birth of this popular assembly. 'A few articles, containing suggestions as regards how to call such assembly into existence and what questions should be considered fit for it to decide, have been published in the Chinese Press; and now that the ice has been broken, numerous other effusions on this entertaining subject may confidently be expected to follow.
Tue Strire is THe Sour.
The topic, next to the Citizens' Convention in interest and importance that has engaged the Chinese mind is the sudden outbreak of hostile actions between the Kuangsi faction which has, for the last three years, held undisputed sway in the province of Kuangtung, and the Kuangtung troops under General Chen Chiung-ming, who have been exiles from their own province (or anyhow who could not have returned to their homeland except as under-dogs), and who have since been in occupation of Changchow and Chuanchow, two southern counties in Fukien. The causes and the reasons for the split are too numerous and complicated to enumorate here, but whoever has fol lowed the reports of political incidents in North and South will be no more surprised at this dramatic turn of the tables by Chen Chiung-ming, a staunch follower of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and once himself Tutuh of Kuangtung. against' the taskmaster of his native province, than would he have been at the recent conflict between the Anhui and Chibli factions in the North.
Of other questions, a short ré= sume may be given as follows:—a number of new problems ha arisen to confront the nation as a result of the reorganization of the Cabinet and new influences at work. The prospect for an earlier resumption of the Peace Conference is not a whit brighter; but the present moment affords China a new opportunity to eradicate abuses and to introduce reforms. The strenuous effort exerted by the people of the four provinces, namely, Fukien, Shensi, Shantung and Anhui, to rid their land of the military despots—Li Hou-chi, Chen Shu-fan, Ma Liang and Nyi Tsze-chung—is sympathetically noticed; but the successful outcome of their struggle regarded as doubtful.
The people of Kiangsu, the Tuchun and the Civil Governor are still on the warpath, owing to the latter's obstinacy in promoting and retaining Vu Chi-chi in the post of Financial Commissioner. despicable conduct of the M.P.'s in entertaining Tsao Kun and Chang Tso-lin as a mark of their gratitude for the laters' kindness and forbearance in shelving the question of the Parliament's dissolution is strongly criticifed. Their insidious intrigue in tempting Chang Tso-lin to aspire to the Vice-Presidential chair, is exposed with both scorn and concern, for it may entail consequences most harmful te the nation.
The headings of several other articles are:—The new and old Peking; alleged compact for mutual support between Hsu, Chin, Tsao and Chang; Tsao and Chang loath to leave Peking: hopes of better results from the Chamber of Commerce (Chinese); Chou Tszechi's projected mission to America the dissolution of the (referring to the City politicians responsible for much of the soldiers' iniquities; laxity in the boycott campaign; war prizes as rich spoils for the victors: prohibition of export of flour officially vetoed: the Citizens' Convention Preparatory Bureau, foreign relations: farewell to Students for America; discharge of superfluous official: Japan's intrigues in China: and Japanese reserva regarding Manchuria and Mongolia.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.