Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Chu Ch'i-ch'ien

Mr. Chu Chi-chien,

朱啟鈴

Chu Chi-chien is a native of Kweichow. In the Tsing dynasty he received the degree of M. A. through competitive Chinese examinations. After having held various government offices, Mr. Chu was appointed to assist in the management of educational affairs for the Capital. In 1904 he was appointed Superintendent of Peking Inner Police. In 1907 the present President, Hsu Shih-chang, was appointed Viceroy of Manchuria, and soon after the appointment, he recommended to the Throne that Chu Chi-chien be given the office of Director-General of Mongolian Affairs. The Throne approved of the recommendation and gave him a handsome monthly salary. Later, Hsu Shih-chang sent Mr. Chu abroad to study the problems of colonization in order that he might be of assistance in colonizing Manchuria. Upon his return, Mr. Chu was engaged by a Viceroy of Manchuria as his adviser. On account of his disagreement with General Tien Liang, a member of the Government Council, he returned to Peking and was subsequently appointed director of one section of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway in 1909. Chu Chi-chien was taken into the confidence of the late President Yuan Shih-kai uponn the recommendation of Hsu Shih-chang. In July of 1912, he was therefore, appointed Minister of Communications when Lu Cheng-hsiang was Prime Minister. He retained this office after Chao Ping-chun had succeeded Premier Lu. In July of 1913, when the second revolution was at its height, Mr. Chu was appointed Acting Prime Minister, but he did not accept the post on account of political inexpediency. On September 11 of the same year, when the revolution was suppressed. he became Minister of the Interior, which position he held for almost two years. In the winter of 1915, Yuan Shih-kai started the movement to make himself Emperor, and Chu Chi-chien played an important part in the movement. Upon the death of Yuan Shih-kai after the failure of his movement, Mr. Chu resigned the office of Minister of Interior, and was ordered to be arrested on account of his connection with the imperialistic President. He retired to Tientsin. In the summer of 1918, the new parliament was convoked, and Chu Chi-chien was elected Vice-Speaker of the Senate. A few days before this event, the government issued a mandate pardoning those who were associated with the Yuan Shih-kai monarchical movement. However, Mr. Chu declined the honor, and a few months later new Vice-Speaker of the Senate was elected. Chu Chi-chien has was appointed Chief of the Northern peace delegation to the Chinese peace conference. He has the confidence of the people generally and is considered a powerful leader of the Chaotung clique or Communications Party.