Peiping, May 4.
IHRE days, April 25 to 27, were supposed to have been devoted in Peiping to special celebrations in honour of the installation lof the new "Reformed Government" of the Chinese Republic. I because the public interest displayed on this occasion was of the slightest, and it was difficult to find any signs of these celebrations, unless one went specially out to look for them, The total lack of interest the authorities emphasized the att shown by the general public and titude of indifference almost more strongly than if no celebrations had been held at all.
Even onthe very few ornamental arches, erected on one or two of the main thoroughfares and covered with red bunting and many-coloured paper flowers, the authorities had not taken the trouble to place any banners or inscriptions to show what they were meant to commemorate; and the public was left to make what it liked of them. The spontaneous public meeting in front of the Taihomen, in the Forbidden City—entrance by ticket only—was very poorly attended; I have seen much larger crowds on much less important occasions.
Nor did the audience show the east enthusiasm or interest in the long and dull speeches, full of platitudes and wishful thinking, shouted into the microphone by speakers on the terrace in front of the gate. was amusing to note that each fof the deputations that were brought into town from the " surrounding country to attend the meeting, was accompanied by. a large party" of police, about one policeman to Ave or Six persons. This heavy guard was! presumably to prevent any members of these voluntary and spontaneous. delegations slipping away back home again en route. Sull more significant was the fact that, although it was the Installation of the new Central Government that was being specially celebrated, its flag, the Kuomintang. Sun flag,' was conspicuous by its absence.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.