File No. 803.00/1612.
The American Chargé d’Affaires to the Secretary of State.
Peking, March 18, 1913.
Sir: Continuing my No. 772, of March 11, 1913, I have the honor to report further upon the political situation in China, as follows:
council and assembly.
* * * The Council having refused to sanction the President’s proposal for a constitutional committee, the project has been abandoned. The leading political parties are conferring in regard to the matter and it is now proposed that when the Assembly meets it shall at once pass two articles of the constitution providing for the election of a permanent President and the appointment of a Premier and Cabinet; that following this the election shall be held and the new government inaugurated; after which the Assembly will proceed with the drafting of the Constitution.
finances.
The Government has relieved itself temporarily of financial embarrassment, by making some small loans. * * * On the other hand, the Minister of Finance reports the situation as improved. Immediate necessities, he says, are met by these small loans and the appeal of the Central Government to the provinces has, he says, brought in some funds. It is evident however that the Government is living from hand to mouth.
mongolia.
According to information received on the 15th instant from the War Office, the Mongols have already begun their attack upon the Chinese frontier settlements. * * *
I have [etc.]