Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-10-29
Vicissitudes of the Chinese DipiO.
mat.-.lMperial Decree,

A dispatch from Shanghai, China,
dated August 20. says that Chung How
Who concluded the kuldja treaty with
Russia and was imprisoned and threat.
ened with death for it, has been re-.
leased.
Chung How was in fact condemned
to death last winter, but the execution
OF the sentence was deferred out of
concession to the protests of the foreign
Ministers. Recently the sentence of
death was temporarily suspended until
the result Of the mission of the Mar.
quis Tseng was made known. 1t has
ended in the release of Chung How.
The following decree of suspension of
sentence. taken from the North China
Daily Ne'rs. is interesting as showing
the Chinese mode of reasoning and
manner of dealing in such contingen.
cies:
AS Chung How, sent as our Envoy to
Russia, violated his instructions and
exceeded his powers, and because the
treaty made by him contained many
stipulations which were impracticable,
our High Minister of State in Council
deliberated upon his offenses and de-
cided that he should be decapitated af-
ter the autumn ASST ,s az a punishment
BETTING his guilt. But new we hear
from without (outside the palace) that
this matter is discussed and that many
are of opinion that the punishment OF
Chung How on the part of China re-
fleets upon the dignity OF Russia.
This is very far from being the design
of the imperial throne. China has
been upon "a footing of amity with
Russia for more than two hundred
years, and it is assuredly our desire
that this may continue to the end of
time, and that the amicable relations of
friendly States may not be destroyed.
Chung How, in obedience to our
mandate, acting as our Minister, with
out deliberate and careful negotiations
with Russia, recklessly gave assent to
atipulations which China cannot fulfill.
He has brought his punishment upon
himself. The throne deals with aim
according to the statutes, and maintains
that in thus acting the laws of China
deal with Minister of China, and that
Russia is not affected in any way. But
rs We fear that as the report OF our
action must travel to great distance
and be transmitted from one to another,
the real motives which have prompted
the conduct of China in this business
may not be perfectly understood; that
aversion and distrust may spring from
misapprehension of our motives, and
that friendly relations will be uravoid-
ably interfered with; we. therefore,
acting outside of the statutes, and as a
special mark Of grace, remit temporari,
ly the sentence Of decapitation after
the autumn assizes passed upon Chung
How. Let him, however, be detainc
in prison until the Marquis Tseng shall
reach Russia, and it shall appear how
the matters at issue may be adjusted,
when further decree in his case will
be made known.
Let the Marquis Tseng. upon receipt
OF this decree, inform the Government
of Russia that the sentence of decapi.
talion passed upon Chung How has
been temporarily RENTED, and let him
state that in this act is to be seen an
evidence of the friendly sentiments of
China towards Russia.
In the treaty stipulations which he
must negotiate, let him deal with the
business and reach q satisfactory solu-
ton i'll accordance with our will as al
ready expressed to him.
Respect this.