893.00/4222: Telegram
The Minister in China ( Schurman ) to the Secretary of State
40. My 38, February 4, 3 p.m. President has sent reply to Chang Tso-lin saying that Cabinet was formed because Chang and Tsao Kun agreed to it and not because of any previously formed purpose [Page 687] of the President himself and that Shantung matter having been twice explained by Liang Cabinet no further explanation is necessary and Chang is requested to determine in direct consultation with Tsao what measures must now be taken.
Chang holding conference Mukden and Tsao and Wu Pei-fu at Paotingfu in regard to Cabinet. Crisis continuing difficult yet neither wants to fight partly for military reasons and partly because Liang does not make a popular issue for Chang nor the Chihli party for Wu.
At noon today Liang stated privately that while preferring to resign he would not take any action before the 13th and that plans for ousting President had been perfected.
Unless Government grapples with fundamental issues of reunion of provinces and financial rehabilitation Cabinet changes matter little. More changes more the same thing.
- Text printed from corrected copy received about Feb. 21.↩