Speculation Over Successor to Marshal ow Policies Cause Peking Worry Front Our Ows Peking, June 23.
Reports reaching Peking concern ing the illness and death of Marshal Yen. Hsi-shan have aroused considerable speculation as to what Would" happen in' Shansi in the event of the veteran ruler of that province being stricken.
Foreigners long resident in Shansi freely admit that there is no one in the direct line of succession, and it now generally conceded that the removal of the present ruler of, the Province so well known for its "iso-Tationist" tendencies, can only re-result in an extension of the direct control of the Nanking Government.
There is, of course, no doubt that there might be an attempt by ya fous minor military satraps toa sume control of a province the habitants of which have invariably shown themselves uneager to welcome the arrival of officials armed. with the authority of the Central Government, Then, there are the reports of a vast silver reserve accumulated by Marshal Yen Hsi-shan. It is a ree serve on which he drew freely at] the time of the run on Shansi notes. It is common knowledge that his! prompt backing of Shansi notes with Silver taken from these reserves, saved the provincial note issue from the Ignominious collapse it bad once' experienced, There Is, therefore, the prospect of booty, in addition to local rule, and must be recalled that the "sphere tral Government over Shansi would) the more than a local triumph, they) declare. They are of the opinion that, once personal rule passes from Shansi, an independent viceroyalty, must necessarily be converted into] provincial administration subject to the authority of the Central Government at Nanking. It would extend the authority of the Central Govern: ment to the west, where it's rule has 30 long been questioned by local rulers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.