"But what about your resignation? Had "you not just before joined Gen. Wang in resigning?" "Yes. Let me explain why. Two days before Mr. Li left the Presidency, he published far and wide a telegram which contained three assertions (1) That the military authorities were trying to compel him to appoint Dr. W. W. Yen as premier. (2) That they were trying to make him hand over his powers to Dr. Yen.. (3) That they were asking the President for arrears of pay; that was not his affair. The phrase used for military authorities' haa been interpreted by many to include myself (and does include me in its correct use) but I had said nothing to the President about Dr. Yen and. the premiership. As regards T2), although Gen. Wang and others. did have an interview about the premiership, I cannot imagine their demanding such a thing as the President's telegram speaks of. But it was the third thing that touched me most keenly.. There was no cabinet; no Secretary at the War Office; none at the Treasury. The executive government was fo all intents and purposes, the President. For him to publish a telegram saying that he had nothing to do with the army was practically making the troops the possession of their individual general. I am mot prepared to accept any such position. If the army is not a national army, I would rather have nothing to do with it. Gen. Wang at once communicated with me in regard to the telegram and we found ourselves in agreement. It was. in protest at that telegram—which I feel strongly ought never to have been sent—that we jointly - sent in our resignation."
"Probably people argue that because you and Gen. Wang acted together in that oné~ thing,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.