Article 8.  The Imperial Guards will be retained without change in members or emolument, but they will be placed under the control of the Department of War of the Republic of China.

B.—­Concerning the Imperial Clansmen.

Article 1.  Princes, Dukes and other hereditary nobility shall retain their titles as hitherto.

Article 2.  Imperial Clansmen shall enjoy public and private rights in the Republic of China on an equality with all other citizens.

Article 3.  The private property of the Imperial Clansmen shall be duly protected.

Article 4.  The Imperial Clansmen shall be exempt from military service.

C.—­Concerning Manchus, Mongols, Mohammedans and Tibetans.

The Manchus, Mongols, Mohammedans and Tibetans having accepted the Republic, the following terms are accorded to them:—­

Article 1.  They shall enjoy full equality with Chinese.

Article 2.  They shall enjoy the full protection of their private property.

Article 3.  Princes, Dukes and other hereditary nobility shall retain their titles as hitherto.

Article 4.  Impoverished Princes and Dukes shall be provided with means of livelihood.

Article 5.  Provision for the livelihood of the Eight Banners, shall with all dispatch be made, but until such provision has been made the pay of the Eight Banners shall be continued as hitherto.

Article 6.  Restrictions regarding trade and residence that have hitherto been binding on them are abolished, and they shall now be allowed to reside and settle in any department or district.

Article 7.  Manchus, Mongols, Mohammedans and Tibetans shall enjoy complete religious freedom.

DOCUMENTS IN GROUP II

(1) The Provisional Constitution passed at Nanking in January, 1912.

(2) The Presidential Election Law passed on the 4th October, 1913, by the full Parliament, under which Yuan Shih Kai was elected President,—­and now formally incorporated as a separate chapter in the Permanent Constitution.

(3) The Constitutional Compact, promulgated on 1st May, 1914.  This “law” which was the first result of the coup d’etat of 4th November, 1913, and designed to take the place of the Nanking Constitution is wholly illegal and disappeared with the death of Yuan Shih Kai.

(4) The Presidential Succession Law.  This instrument, like the Constitutional Compact, was wholly illegal and drawn up to make Yuan Shih Kai dictator for life.

THE PROVISIONAL CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Passed at Nanking in 1912, currently referred to as the old Constitution

CHAPTER I.—­GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1.  The Republic of China is composed of the Chinese people.

Art. 2.  The sovereignty of the Chinese Republic is vested in the people.