HC Deb 14 November 1928 vol 222 cc890-1W
Sir J. POWER

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make a statement as to the present situation in China?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

The final operations for rounding up the remnants of the Northern troops in the area between Tientsin and the Great Wall were undertaken by the Nationalists in September. Fighting took place northwest of Tongshan on 9th September, and resulted in the defeat of the Northern forces, and Tongshan was occupied by the Nationalists on the evening of the same day. By the end of September the area, had been cleaned up and fighting had ceased. I am happy to say that there has been no resumption of civil war.

The constitution of the new Government (which I have been informed by the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires is to be known as the National Government) was defined in the Government Organisation Law promulgated at Nanking on 3rd October. The preamble lays down the future relations of the Government to the Kuomintang, stating that the party is responsible for its establishment, direction and supervision pending the time when it will be possible to hand over full constitutional powers to the people. The State Council consists of a chairman, who represents the Government in international affairs and is concurrently Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Navy and Air Force, and 16 members, the most significant of whom are Feng Yu-hsiang and Chang Hsueh-liang, Chang Tso-lin's son. Government is exercised through five Councils:

The Administration or Executive Council;

  • The Legislative Council;
  • The Judicial Council:
  • The Examination Council;
  • The Supervisory Council.
The new Government, formed on this basis, was installed on 10th October, the Republican anniversary. Chiang Kai-shek took the oath of office as President of the National Government. Presidents of the five Councils were also appointed.

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