File No. 893.00/724.
The American Chargé d’Affaires to the Secretary of State.
Peking, October 26, 1911.
Sir: In continuation of my No. 349 of October 11, 1911,1 I have the honor to report that * * * taking a general survey of the Empire one cannot but admit that the present Manchu Dynasty is face to face with the gravest crisis in its history. Unless a reconciliation can be effected there is at hand either a division of the Empire or the entire overthrow of the Manchus. If Yuan Shih-Kai takes the leadership and is successful in winning back the disaffected provinces by the introduction of a reformed government, the dynasty may be saved. Otherwise there seems but little hope of recovering control of the south except by the assistance of a foreign power. * * * The Cabinet is without a definite policy except that of endeavoring to persuade Yuan Shih-Kai to save the country. The Court appears to be terror-stricken and princes are preparing for flight. * * * The consuls have carefully refrained from any acknowledgment of the revolutionary authorities, but since the Imperial authorities have fled they do not consider it possible to avoid all intercourse. The doyen of the diplomatic corps in circulating the telegram2 expressed the opinion that the consuls could not avoid holding intercourse with General Li on matters affecting the security of foreign life and property, and that they should be allowed a discretionary power of deciding on the spot what questions fall within this category.
I have [etc.],