893.00/6886: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 28—3:07 p.m.]
549. Legation’s telegram 455 [456], November 25, 5 p.m. 1924.44a
2. Dated December 26th, Tuan yesterday issued three important mandates as follows: 1st, Tuan admits that he has failed to carry out his plans for political reforms and the peaceful unification of the country, and he therefore ordains the adding of a responsible cabinet to the system of the Provisional Government, and he intimates that he will not oppose the cabinet’s measures; 2d, the system of the Provisional Government is so modified as to abolish supreme control by the Chief Executive and vest it in the latter, the Premier, and cabinet members jointly; 3d, Hsu Shih-ying is appointed Premier (see last issue of the China Year Book). This appointment is understood to meet with the approval of Feng Yü-hsiang and Kuomintang as well as of Tuan and the latter’s political associates.
On December 25th mandates appointed Sun Yüeh, commander of the Third Army of the Kuominchun, as Military and Civil Governor of Chihli in place of Li Ching-lin.