Feng Guozhang's term as president expired on 10 October 1918. He did not seek re-election provided Duan Qirui retired as Premier on the same day.[2] Xu Shichang, a veteran statesman and was seen as being a fairly neutral mediator between different factions and between the North and South.[1]
Though the Anfu Club promised the vice-presidency to Cao Kun, the Communications Clique prevented the two-thirds quorum required for his election and left the office vacant. [citation needed]
The Guangzhou Government denounced the "new" parliament as illegal and refused to recognize the election of Xu Shichang as legitimate. The "old" National Assembly elected in 1912 attained a quorum on 6 August in Guangzhou and declared it would not recognize any activities of the body meeting in Beijing, including the presidential election or any mandates or agreements made.[3]
