ed you. I state with
deepest regret and greatest sorrow that as the result of my lack of
ability to handle the situation the political crisis has eventually
affected the form of government. For this Yuan-hung realizes that he
owes the country apology. The situation in Peking is daily becoming
more precarious. Since Yuan-hung is now unable to exercise his power
the continuity of the Republic may be suddenly interrupted. You are
also entrusted by the citizens with great responsibilities; I ask
you to temporarily exercise the power and functions of the President
in your own office in accordance with the provisions of Article 42
of the Provisional Constitution and Article 5 of the Presidential
Election Law. As the means of communication is effectively blocked
it is feared that the sending of my seal will meet with difficulty
and obstruction. Tuan Chih-chuan (Tuan Chi-jui) has been appointed
Premier, and is also ordered to temporarily protect the seal, and
later to devise a means to forward it on to you. Hereafter
everything pertaining to the important question of saving the
country shall be energetically pushed by you and Chih-chuan with
utmost vigour. The situation is pressing and your duty is clear. In
great anxiety and expectation I am sending you this telegram.

Li Yuan-hung.

(4) Dated July 3. To Vice-President Feng, Tu Chuns and Governors of
the Provinces, Provincial Assemblies, Inspector General Lu:--I
presume that the two telegrams dated 1st and one dated 3rd inst.
have safely reached your place. With bitter remorse to myself I now
make the statement that the political crisis has resulted in
affecting the form of government. Tuan Chih-chuan has been appointed
on the 1st inst. as Premier; and the Vice-President has been asked
to exercise the power and functions of the President in accordance
of office by the Vice-President. Premier Tuan is authorized to act
at his discretion. All the seal and documents have been sent to
Tientsin, and Premier Tuan has been told to keep and guard the same
for the time being. He has also been asked to forward the same to
the Vice-President. The body guards of the President's Office have
suddenly been replaced and I have been pressed to give up the Three
Lakes. Yuan-hung has therefore removed to a sanctuary. As regards
the means to save the coun