893.00/5678: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Bell) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 24—11:35 p.m.]
405. My telegram 402, October 23, 2 p.m.12 Hsu En-yuan, emissary of Tuan Chi-jui, has just conveyed message from latter saying Tuan will come to Peking probably October 26th to be commander in chief of the “National People’s Army”. Tuan transmitted request for moral support of the American Government for this attempt to rehabilitate Chinese peacefully and disclaimed all pro-Japanese or pro-Anfu leanings.
From well-informed source I learned that this coup d’état was formulated and executed by three military leaders, Feng Yu-hsiang commanding 30,000 men, Hu Ching-yi commanding perhaps 20,000 unpaid and unreliable Shensi troops, and Sun Yao commanding about 5,000 men in Peking who admitted Feng’s forces yesterday. These leaders and their immediate followers profess to be animated [Page 385] by desire to secure peaceful unification of country and to end selfish militaristic warfare and waste of country’s resources.
This afternoon under military coercion the President’s bodyguard was disarmed and the President was compelled to issue following mandates: First, deploring war in the northeast and ordering both sides to cease fighting and maintain their respective positions until the Central Government shall devise a settlement. Mandate ends with threat to use force against either side if necessary to secure obedience to it. Countersigned by Premier and entire Cabinet except Huang Fu, Minister of Education, whose failure to sign is not explained. Second mandate addressed posts of commanders and vice commanders of anti-rebel forces and directs military authorities of Chihli Province, Wang Cheng-pin and Peng Shouhsin, to keep forces in Shanhaikuan region under control. Countersigned by Premier and military. Third mandate deprives Wu Pei-fu of all offices and similarly countersigned. Fourth mandate appoints Wu Pei-fu director general of development of Kokonor. Countersigned by Premier and Minister of Agriculture and Commerce.
Premier W. W. Yen has privately informed me this evening that he knew nothing of the coup d’état before it occurred and that he and entire Cabinet have submitted their resignations. Also that two plans are now under discussion, first, involving temporarily government by commission as described in my number 402, of October 23, 2 p.m., and, second, maintaining outward semblance of policy and personnel. He could not predict which policy would prevail. The treaty powers’ representatives today addressed note to Koo, Minister for Foreign Affairs, urgently insisting on restoration various means of communication involved in the protocol.13 I am assured privately from apparently reliable source restoration to normal conditions have place shortly [sic]. I understand telegraphic communication already restored. Military restrictions on the streets already greatly relaxed.
I have sent 10 marines to Tungchow as has been done on previous occasions to protect approximately 100 American citizens. Shensi troops there are acting lawlessly but I consider this guard ample.
After consulting with naval and military attaché[s] and commandant of Legation Guard I have sent radio to commander in chief Asiatic Fleet requesting reenforcement be sent 150 marines to Legation Guard.
- See telegram of Oct. 24, from the consul general at Tientsin, supra.↩
- Final protocol of 1901; Foreign Relations, 1901, Appendix (Affairs in China), p. 312.↩