The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-24
PROTECT FOREIGNERS.
AN Imperial Elicit Enjoin'ng ih'
Has Bccr Issued.
NV Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, July 23.-The State De
oartment has maze pupiic the following
text of an edict delivered to-day by Mn
lister WI to Secretary HAY. Inns IS 'iie
edict referred TO by United States CoilSui
Fowler at Che Foo IN his message re-
ceived here yesterday:
AN Imperial edict, issued on the trSt
day OF the sixth moon, tJuly 1Ith,) trans
mitted by the Viceroy Liu Kun Yin on the
goth of July and received by Minister WI
on the 2lst of July, at / O'Clock:
The present conflict between China and
the foreign powers had its origin in the
long standing antaSonism between the
people and Christian missions. The subse-
Quent fail of the Taku forts preclpita ted
the meeting of force with force. The I'M
peral Government having due regard TO
The importance Of International intercourSe,
suilI refused to go so far as TO interrupt
the existing relations We have already
repeatedly issued DEGREES providing Tor
the protection Of the foreign legations and
also commanded the provincial authorities
~ protect missionaries. 1nasmuch as
there is still no cessation in the employ
ment Of force. foreign merchants and SUD
jectS residing in China, VINO form a nunler-
Gus body in the country, should be pro-
tected without distinction.
I'VE hereby command all the Tartar
Generals, Governors General, ana Cover
nOrS OF provinces, 10 IOJh ttLlSi liz ~ S4eo'A
merchants and missionaries living in the
open ports procedures, departments ana
districts under their respective JurlSulc-
ton. and to afford them due protection IN
accordance with treaty stipulatons with
out fail.
Last month we heard with profound
establishment and regret of the Killing OIL
the Chancellor Of the japanese legation,
Mr.. Aklra. and the same fate befell the
German Minister shortly afterward Inc
violent removal of the German Minister,
whose residence at the capital was neces-
sarv to the transa elton OF business between
the two countries affected us very deeply.
II is the duty of the authorities concerned
to cause stringent orders for the speedy
arrest and punishment OF the murderers
to be carried out
'.Since the commencement OF the attack
on Tien Tsin, there are foreign SUBJECTS
and missionaries who have, on account Oh
local disturbances suffered death or loss
of property. through no fault of their own
We hereby command the Governor OF 1oekin
and the Viceroy of Chill to cause inVesti-
cations to be made by their respective
sIlbordinates of all such claims, except
these arising directly from the said attack,
with a view to their ultimate settlement,
Moreover local outlaws and rebellious SUD-
iects have of late given themselves up TO
burning, Killing anu )iI4itS-i!!e7 ~ - S'N
disquiet of our loyal subjects. This Is an
utter defiance of law. we hereby COM
mand the said Governors General. Cover
nors and Commanders of our forces to N
vestigate the situation and to take such
measures for the detection of the offenders
and the restoration of order as the necessi-
ties of the case demand
1--WE hereby command this, our general
edict. to be made known for the informa-
ton of all it may concern. Respect this
A significant statement in the above
edict is noted in that passage which di-
reefs an investigation of all claims. eek
cept those arising directly from the said
attack (attack on Tien-Tsin). with
view to their ultimate settlement
This appears to make plain not only
that the Chinese Government viii settle
claims for actual losses, but that it has
now formally decreed an exception OF
those claims arising directly from the at
tack on Ten Tsin. 1t seems to indicate
that the Chinese Government holds TINT
the attack on Tien-Tsn was unwarranted.