In the following chapter will be found a _résumé_ of the Peace Conference, unsatisfactory as it was in most respects. {185} CHAPTER XIII THE PEACE CONFERENCE--A MONARCHY OR A REPUBLIC? The Peace Conference met at Shanghai on December 18th. Dr. Wu Ting Fang, who was the Chief Commissioner on the Revolutionist side, is well known. He was educated in Hongkong, and afterwards qualified for the Bar in England. He practised in Hongkong for a little time, and also acted as Police Magistrate. Later on he joined the Chinese Government service under the late Marquis Li Hung-chang. He became Minister to the United States, Spain, and Peru in 1896, and was appointed Vice-President of the Board of Commerce and then of the Waiwupu in Peking. In 1906 he became Vice-President of the Board of Punishments, and was engaged in revising the Chinese code of laws. He retired in that year, and in 1907 went to the United States a second time to represent China as Envoy. He is a firm believer in rational diet. He originated and was made President of the Rational Diet Society and anti-Tobacco Movement in Shanghai, which became very popular. Of the Revolutionary delegates, Wen Tsung-yao also hailed from Hongkong, and was educated in the Government Central School in that colony over twenty years ago. After that he was engaged in the Peiyang University in Tientsin. From 1905 to 1908 he went to Canton as Secretary to ex-Viceroy Tsen Chuan-hsuan, and in June, 1908, he was appointed to Lhassa as {186} Assistant-Amban, and was removed from office after the ex-Dalai Lama was deposed by Edict. Wang Chung-hui is a Cantonese student who graduated from college in America. He also studied in Europe, and is versed in law. Wang Chao-ming is celebrated for his attempt to assassinate the ex-Prince Regent, for which offence he was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released when the recent pardon was granted to all reformers and political offenders. Wang Cheng-ting, who is a returned student from the United States, and Hu Ying are delegates appointed by General Li Yuan Hung. #Tang Wu Shao-yi Ting-Fang* +------------------------------+ #Er Kuan | o o | Wen Chan. | o o | Tseng Yao.* | | #Hsu | | Wang Ting Lin. | o o | Chou Wei.* | | #Chao | | Wang Chun Ni. | o o | Chow Ning* | | #Feng | | New Ih Tung. | o o | Yung Kee.* | o | +------------------------------+ Wang Chen Ting.* * Republicans. #Imperialists.