893.00/15132: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 26—3:45 p.m.]
1694. As reported by Central News Agency, following are revised articles of the organic law of the National Government adopted by CEC September 10:
“Article VIII—The National Government shall have under the following 5 Yuan to exercise respectively the 5 political powers of administration, legislation, judicial, examination and control: (1) the Executive Yuan, (2) the Legislative Yuan, (3) the Judicial Yuan, (4) the Examination Yuan, (5) the Control Yuan. Each of the aforementioned Yuan may, accordance to law, issue orders.
Article IX—The National Government should have a President and from 25 to 37 councilors who shall be selected and appointed by the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang of China.
Article XI—The President of the National Government shall be the head of the Republic of China and shall represent the Republic of China in foreign relations.
Article XII—The President of the National Government shall be the Commander-in-Chief of the land, naval and air forces.
Article XIII—The President of the National Government shall hold office for the 3 years and he may be reappointed, provided, however, that after the enforcement of a permanent constitution and upon the inauguration of the President (Tsung Tung) elected he shall be relieved of his office. The state councilors of National Government shall hold office for the same duration. In case the President of the National Government is incapacitated by any cause, the President of the Executive Yuan shall act on his behalf.
Article XIV—All laws promulgated and all mandates issued by the National Government shall be signed by the President of the National Government accordance to law. Such laws promulgated and mandates issued shall be countersigned by the President or President of the Yuan concerned.
Article XV—The Presidents and Vice Presidents of the five Yuan of the National Government shall be selected and appointed by the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang of China from among the state councilors [upon?] recommendation by the President of the National Government. The President of the National Government shall be responsible to the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang of China and the Presidents of the five Yuan be responsible to the President of the National Government.”