ABSTRACT
Morrison's efforts to allay Yuan Shih-kai's fear of Japan bore fruit, as seen in the previous chapter. As a result, Yuan caused the issue of an edict on 28 December 1911, which authorized the convocation of the National Assembly in order to decide the form of government. 1 Because the outcome was a foregone conclu-sion, the establishment of a republic was virtually secured, although Yuan was still wearing a monarchical mask. The dynasty was in a state of political collapse, and Yuan made the Empress-Dowager surrender the palace treasures to pay for the army and government services, further weakening the dynasty financially. Morrison felt neither sympathy nor respect for the Empress-Dowager: ‘What a deplorable condition of things that a woman of such ignorance and incapacity should have control of such vast sums of money when the State is in such a dire predicament.’ 2
