893.00/5047: Telegram
The Minister in China (Schurman) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 14—5:50 a.m.]
221. My telegram no. 220, June 13, 2 p.m. Afternoon 13th dean of the diplomatic corps received the following letter from Li Yuan-hung. “Finding I cannot perform freely the duties of my office, I am going to Tientsin. Please inform diplomatic body.” Li Yuan-hung was held at Tientsin central station for about twelve hours during which time negotiations were carried on. As a result he (1) confirmed his resignation and instructed the Cabinet to call election, and (2) telephoned one of his wives, who was in the French hospital facing this Legation, to turn over Presidential seals which she had there in her charge and which up to that time she absolutely refused to give up. Li Yuan-hung was then allowed to proceed to Tientsin East where he went to his house in the foreign concession.
[Page 511]General Wang Huai-ching and Feng Yu-hsiang sent a note at midnight repeating assurance that they would be responsible for peace and order in the city and for the safety of Americans.
Yen and Koo, who dined here last night and who talked freely with me in private about the situation, fear it will be difficult to secure the constitutional number of votes for the election of a new President as Parliament is divided into about forty groups of which none controls more than a fraction the requisite number of votes. Yen feels strongly the necessity of preserving at least the semblance of regularity. He suggested, nevertheless, in case [the] parliamentary election proved impracticable, that some one might be called to Presidential office by public opinion as expressed by leaders and others in the provinces. Yen and Koo left here about 10:30 o’clock to attend a conference of Cabinet members and political leaders.
City is peaceful.