even days' farce the Manchu dynasty found itself worse off than ever
before. It is necessary, however, not to lose sight of the main problem
in China, which is the establishment of a united government and a
cessation of internecine warfare,--issues which have been somewhat
simplified by Chang Hsun's escapade, but not solved. That a united
government will ultimately be established is the writer's belief, based
on a knowledge of all the facts. But to attain that further provincial
struggles are inevitable, since China is too large a unit to find common
ground without much suffering and bitterness. President Li Yuan-hung
having declared that nothing would induce him to resume office,
Vice-President Feng Kuo-chang has become the legal successor and has
quietly assumed office. Chang Hsun's abortive coup has already cleared
the air in North China to this extent: that the Manchu Imperial Family
is to be removed from Peking and the Imperial allowance greatly reduced,
whilst the proscription of such out-and-out imperialists as Kang Yu-wei
has destroyed the last vestiges of public support. Finally the
completion of China's foreign policy, _i.e._ the declaration of war
against Germany and Austria, has at last been made on the 14th August,
1917, and a consistent course of action mapped out.

[Illustration: The National Assembly sitting as a National Convention
engaged on the Draft of the Permanent Constitution.

_Specially photographed by permission of the Speakers for the Present
Work_.]

[Illustration: View from rear of Hall of the National Assembly sitting
as a National Convention engaged on the Draft of the Permanent
Constitution.

_Specially photographed by permission of the Speakers for the Present
Work_.]

FOOTNOTES:

[25] The final text of the Permanent Constitution as it stood on the
28th May, 1917, will be found in the appendix. Its accuracy has been
guaranteed to the writer by the speakers of the two Houses.

[26] Since this was written certain diplomatists in Peking have been
forced to resign.

CHAPTER XVII

THE FINAL PROBLEM:--REMODELLING THE POLITICO-ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN CHINA AND THE WORLD

The careful narrative we have made--supported as it is by documents--of
the history of China since the inception of the Republic six years ago
should not fail to awaken profound astonishment among those who are
interested in the spread of good government throughout the world. Even
casual readers will