File No. 893.00/875.
The American Minister to the Secretary of State.
Peking, December 31, 1911.
Sun is leaving Shanghai tomorrow for Nanking to be inaugurated. He thus ignores the peace conference at Shanghai and the proposals to submit the form of government to a national convention.
Today Yuan asked if a suggestion could not be made by the six powers that the armistice be prolonged for several months or a year, each side controlling territory now in its possession. The powers might well urge both sides to prolong the armistice for such a reasonable time as would allow the selection of delegates to the convention. Yuan’s insistence that the convention be fairly representative of the people seems reasonable.