LAST MANDATE OF YUAN SHIH-KAI

The Min Kuo has been established for five years.  Unworthily have I, the Great President, been entrusted with the great task by the citizens.  Owing to my lack of virtue and ability I have not been able fully to transform into deeds what I have desired to accomplish; and I blush to say that I have not realized one ten-thousandth part of my original intention to save the country and the people.  I have, since my assumption of the office, worked in day and thought in the night, planning for the country.  It is true that the foundation of the country is not yet consolidated, the hardships of the people not yet relieved, and innumerable reforms are still unattended to.  But by the valuable services of the civil officials and militarymen, some semblance of peace and order has been maintained in the provinces and friendly relations with the Powers upheld till now.

While on the one hand I comfort myself with such things accomplished, on the other hand I have much to blame myself for.  I was just thinking how I could retire into private life and rest myself in the forest and near the springs in fulfilment of my original desire, when illness has suddenly overtaken me.  As the affairs of the State are of gravest importance, the right man must be secured to take over charge of the same.  In accordance with Article 29 of the Provisional Constitution, which states that in case the office of the Great President should be vacated for certain reasons or when the Great President is incapacitated from doing his duties, the Vice-President shall exercise authority and power in his stead.  I, the Great President, declare in accordance with the Provisional Constitution that the Vice-President shall exercise in an acting capacity, the authority and power of the Great President of the Chung Hua Min Kuo.

The Vice-President being a man of courtesy, good nature, benevolence and wisdom, will certainly be capable of greatly lessening the difficulties of the day and place the country on the foundation of peace, and so remedy the defects of me, the Great President, and satisfy the expectations of the people of the whole country.  The civil and military officials outside of the Capital as well as the troops, police and scholars and people should doubly keep in mind the difficulties and perils of the nation, and endeavour to maintain peace and order to the best of their ability, placing before everything else the welfare of the country.  The ancients once said:  “It is only when the living do try to become strong that the dead are not dead.”  This is also the wish of me, the Great President.

(Signed) Tuan chi-jui, Secretary of State and Minister of War, Tsao Ju-lin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Communications.

Wang yi-tang, Minister of Interior.

Chow Tzu-chi, Minister of Finance.