BREAKING THE BONDS OF PRECEDENT 791 gist of their recommendations could not have been unexpected-the Constitutional systems were discussed in many of the memorials sent from abroad,and generally in positive terms.By contrast the report from Russia,the one state visited that retained an autocratic system, emphasized the problems of internal disorder following the Russo- Japanese war.46 Now,a special committee,led by Prince Chun(father of the heir apparent),and composed of Grand Councilors and Grand Secretaries,and other senior officials met with the commission to discuss constitutionalism.In spite of significant opposition,the throne issued an edict on September 1,1906 ordering metropolitan and provincial officials to begin preparations for creating a constitu- tional system.+7 The September 1 edict was an endorsement of constitutional rule for the future,but pointed towards public administration as a more immediate problem.The Throne accepted the commissioners'find- ings that 'the real reason why other countries have become wealthy and powerful lies in the fact that they have a constitution and decide [important issues]through public discussion.Their monarch and people form one indivisible unity."48 But the edict also made it clear that a constitution would not occur for some time-appropriate deliberation and the preparation of both officials and the people were necessary first.The first order of business was improving public administration:we must begin with the government structure with a view to sweeping away evil practices and defining responsibilities. First,the official system should be discussed and decided upon in detail and be revised step by step.4 This is not surprising,while constitutional government was undoubtedly a primary concern of the commission,much of their analysis was focused on broader issues of public administration.50 The commissioners,all experienced officials,seemed particularly interested by the issues of central government administration.One 46QCLDS,15-18.Compare to the reports from other countries in pp.6-15 47 Ichiko,889;E-tu Zen Sun,'Constitutional Commissions,'265-7. Maienberger,44 (I have slightly revised the translation),for the Chinese text of the edict see Zhonghua minguo kaiguo wushinian wenxian bian zuan weiyuan hui,Geming yuanliu yu ge ming yundong,Qingting zhi gaige (Taibei:zhengzhong shuju, 1967-74),v.2,514-15 [hereafter abbreviated as Qingting zhi gaige]. 49 Maienberger,45 (I have slightly revised the translation),Qingting thi gaige,v. 2,514-15- Indeed,though historians have described the commission as a Constitutional Mission,'the official documents refer to them simply as 'envoys sent to various countries to investigate government.'(chu shi geguo zhengzhi kaocha dachen).BREAKING THE BONDS OF PRECEDENT 791 gist of their recommendations could not have been unexpected-the Constitutional systems were discussed in many of the memorials sent from abroad, and generally in positive terms. By contrast the report from Russia, the one state visited that retained an autocratic system, emphasized the problems of internal disorder following the Russo￾Japanese war.46 Now, a special committee, led by Prince Chun (father of the heir apparent), and composed of Grand Councilors and Grand Secretaries, and other senior officials met with the commission to discuss constitutionalism. In spite of significant opposition, the throne issued an edict on September 1, 1906 ordering metropolitan and provincial officials to begin preparations for creating a constitu￾tional system.47 The September 1 edict was an endorsement of constitutional rule for the future, but pointed towards public administration as a more immediate problem. The Throne accepted the commissioners' find￾ings that 'the real reason why other countries have become wealthy and powerful lies in the fact that they have a constitution and decide [important issues] through public discussion. Their monarch and people form one indivisible unity.'48 But the edict also made it clear that a constitution would not occur for some time-appropriate deliberation and the preparation of both officials and the people were necessary first. The first order of business was improving public administration: 'we must begin with the government structure with a view to sweeping away evil practices and defining responsibilities. First, the official system should be discussed and decided upon in detail and be revised step by step.'49 This is not surprising, while constitutional government was undoubtedly a primary concern of the commission, much of their analysis was focused on broader issues of public administration.5o The commissioners, all experienced officials, seemed particularly interested by the issues of central government administration. One 46 QCLDS, 15-18. Compare to the reports from other countries in pp. 6-15. 47 Ichiko, 389; E-tu Zen Sun, 'Constitutional Commissions,' 265-7. 48 Maienberger, 44 (I have slightly revised the translation), for the Chinese text of the edict see Zhonghua minguo kaiguo wushinian wenxian bian zuan weiyuan hui, Gemingyuanliuyu ge mingyundong, Qingting zhi gaige (Taibei: zhengzhong shuju, 1967-74), v. 2, 514-15 [hereafter abbreviated as Qingting zhi gaige]. 49 Maienberger, 45 (I have slightly revised the translation), Qingting zhi gaige, v. 2, 5 14-15. 50 Indeed, though historians have described the commission as a 'Constitutional Mission,' the official documents refer to them simply as 'envoys sent to various countries to investigate government.' (chu shi geguo zhengzhi kaocha dachen)