Before the end of May the militarists being now desperate, attempted the old game of inciting the provincial capitals “to declare their independence,” although the mass of the nation was plainly against them.  Some measure of success attended this move, since the soldiery of the northern provinces obediently followed their leaders and there was a sudden wild demand for a march on Peking.  A large amount of rolling-stock on the main railways was seized with this object, the confusion being made worse confounded by the fierce denunciations which now came from the southernmost provinces, coupled with their threats to attack the Northern troops all along the line as soon as they could mobilize.

The month of June opened with the situation more threatening than it had been for years.  Emissaries of the recalcitrant Military Governors, together with all sorts of “politicals” and disgruntled generals, gathered in Tientsin—­which is 80 miles from Peking—­and openly established a Military Headquarters which they declared would be converted into a Provisional Government which would seek the recognition of the Powers.  Troops were moved and concentrated against Peking; fresh demands were made that the President should dissolve Parliament; whilst the Metropolitan press was suddenly filled with seditious articles.  The President, seeing that the situation was becoming cataclysmic, was induced, through what influences is not known, to issue a mandate summoning General Chang Hsun to Peking to act as a mediator, which was another fatal move.  He arrived in Tientsin with many troops on the 7th June where he halted and was speedily brought under subversive influences, sending at once up to Peking a sort of ultimatum which was simply the old demand for the dissolution of Parliament.

Meanwhile on the 5th June, the United States, which had been alarmed by these occurrences, had handed China the following Note hoping thereby to steady the situation: 

The Government of the United States learns with the most profound regret of the dissension in China and desires to express the most sincere desire that tranquillity and political co-ordination may be forthwith re-established.

    The entry of China into war with Germany—­or the continuance of the
    status quo of her relations with that Government—­are matters of
    secondary consideration.

    The principal necessity for China is to resume and continue her
    political entity, to proceed along the road of national development
    on which she has made such marked progress.