Evening journal., 1898-10-07
SITUATION In CHINA.
Dowager Empress In Full
Control.
RUSSIAN INFLUENCE INCREASED.
New Tsung-Ii-yamcn Composed OF
Anti-EngIish Chinnmcn-DOva-
gers IIlegitimate Son May
lie Made Emperor.
LONDON, oct. THE Picking corre-

lie Made Emperor.
LONDON, oct. THE Picking corre-
Epondent Of The Times says:
"The restoration of the regency is
complete. The empress dowager re-
ceives the cabinet daily, seated beside
the emperor openly and not, as former
ly behind a screen. The government is
more retrograde and ieactionary Yung-
In. one Of his trusted friends. succeeds
the late Prince Kung as the chief Man
chu, while the viceroy Of the province
Of Chill Is a Manchu. Nevertheless. de-
spite assertions to the contrary. the bal
ance Of power between the Chinese and
Manohus in high office is unaltered in
the central government, though there Is
small proportional increase of Man
chus In provisional posts.
THE tsung-li-yamen contains no
member cognizant of foreign affairs. It's
chief working member is Hsu Yung vi,
the negotlator of the Gerard convention
Of 1895, who was subsequently removed
from the tsung-li-yamen at the instance
Of Sir Nicholas O'Connor, then British
minister TO China, for breach OF faitk,
but who was reappointed last month.
He says his chief colleague will be Hsu
Ching Cheng, former minister TO Russia
and now director of the Transmanchu-
ran railway, who long received Russian
financial assistance.
THE Russians welcome the change as
Increasing their influence The immedi-
ate exciting cause of the change was
the impending edict ordering officials to
abolish the queue and to adopt foreign
dress A search Of the house of Kang
Yu Wei, the reformer, resulted in the
discovery of papers proving that he was
carrying on a correspondence with the
leaders OF the antdynastic movement in
southern China"
The Peking correspondent of The
Times. telegraphing yesterday, says
The tsung-li-yamen, having unavail-
lngly entreated the foreign legations to
spare China the humiliation Of bringing
foreign escorts TO the capital, agreed to
the demand of the powers for special
train to bring the escort from Tien-tsin
tomorrow"
The Hongkong correspondent Of The
/ Times telegraphs the substance of a
long interview he has had with Kang
Yu Wei, the Cantonese reformer, in
which the latter recounted the history
of the crisis. Kang Yu Wei said that
on June 16 he had a two hours audi
ence with Sle emperor. who anxious
about the Russian encroachments. was
ready to listen to any plan to secure the
integrity of the empire. The Times
correspondent continues:
"Kang advised replacing the Con-
scrvative ministers by Young Progress
sives and the employment of English
men and Americans to effect suggested
reforms. He advised the emperor to
study the progress Of Japan and west
ern methods. The emperor admitted
tho cogency of his arguments, but ex-
: pressed his regret at being unable TO
remove high officials because Of the
/ empress dowager.
"Kang then urged his majesty to
strengthen his friendship with foreign
powers and particularly to seek an al
lance with England. The emperor said
he realized that foreign countries were
no longer Insignificant states and OBJ
served that it was a pity that his min
listers had not averted the impending
trouble. Kang says the real power at
Pelxing is held by Ii Irien Yam, sham
eunuch, and that the dowager's illegi-
innate son, Chun Ming, will probably
be made emperor.
"On the morning of Sept. is Kang re-
ceived two letters from the emperor,
dated respectively Sept. 16 and II. The
first represented the difficulties of his
position, the empress dowagers anger
and his fears that he would be unable
to protect his throne and commanded
Kang to consult with his colleagues as
to how to save the emperor. In the
second letter his majesty said I have
commanded you to superintend the es-
tablishment of an official organ. 1t is
strongly against my wish. I have great
sorrow which I cannot describe with
ink and pen. You must proceed imme-
diately outside to devise means TO save
me without a moments delay
The letter concluded with an ex-
preston of gratitude for Hangs faith
fulness, q warning to him to take care
/ of himself and an expression Of hope
that matters would mend ere long.
"Kang promptly visited the American
missionary, the Rev. Timothy Richard,
whom he asked to call upon the Brit
ish and American legations. Sir Claude
+ Macdonald, British minister, was at
Poi-Tai-So, and the American minister,
Mr. Conger, was at Si-Shan. Ominous
rumors were in circulation that day,
and Kang fed. He was astonished that
England protected him, and he urges
the British government TO take prompt
action to save the emperor"