893.00/4465: Telegram
The Minister in China (Schurman) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 14—1:47 a.m.]
260. My 256, June 11, 11 a.m. and 259, June 12, 6 p.m. Up to noon today neither this Legation nor dean of the diplomatic corps has had [omission] or official knowledge of new President’s accession. Unofficially I am reliably informed that on arrival Li Yuan-hung, Peking, 11th, he proceeded to Palace with Acting Premier Chow Tzu-ch’i and the seals of the office were handed to him. Inauguration took place in the presence of Cabinet and Speakers of the two Houses, the master of ceremonies officiating. President made a speech which produced bad impression on outgoing Cabinet on behalf of whom Acting Premier Chow Tzu-ch’i then announced that none sought positions in new Cabinet. Mandate, June 11th, relieving them of their posts concludes: “Seal of the President, by the Cabinet. Countersigned Chow Tzu-ch’i, Premier.”
Mandate, June 12th, follows:
“Yen Hui-ch’ing (W. W. Yen) is temporarily given the concurrent post of Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs; T’an Yen-k’ai is appointed Acting Minister of the Interior; Tung K’ang, Acting Minister of Finance; Wu Pei-fu, Acting Minister of War; Li Ting-hsin, Acting Minister of the Navy; Wang Ch’ung-hui, Acting Minister of Justice; Huang Yen-p’ei, Acting Minister of Education; Chang Kuo-kan, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Commerce; Kao En-hung, Acting Minister of Communications. Seal of the president, countersigned W. W. Yen, Premier.”
Li Yuan-hung in circular telegram says that he assumed Presidency at call of people and will function till Parliament elects legal successor. I question whether Parliament can quorum.
Question of recognition of President liable to come up. I have reexamined Department’s instructions for recognition of new government in Moore,49 volume 1, sections 43 to 58, and with the exception of Secretary Seward’s instruction of May 16, 1878 [1877],50 announcing American Government would “wait before recognizing General Diaz as President of Mexico,” I find nothing unfavorable to the policy of recognizing Li Yuan-hung as President of China. With Wu Pei-fu in Cabinet and pledged to support President, power and governmental responsibility are united as they were not during Presidency of Hsü Shih-ch’ang whom we nevertheless continued to recognize as lawful President. Government of Li Yuan-hung is in [Page 717] possession of machinery of administration and as it appears, with general assent of the Chinese people. Sun Yat-sen will probably persist in opposition. Chang Tso-lin has telegraphed promise of support. Wu Pei-fu’s cooperation guarantees Government’s ability to hold and exercise administration power.
As the change here is not in form of government but only in head of, held that question of recognition did not now arise. Practically, however, it is liable to come up and I respectfully ask for instructions.