The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-07-23
THE LATEST CHINESE EDICT.
Foreigners TO De Protected and Per
Detrators OF OutraEes Punished.

WI Ting-fang, the Chinese Minister.
called at the State Department this morn
irg and handed 10 Secretary Hay copy o:
the imperial edict. the zubztance o: which
was cabled to the department yesterday by
Consul Fowler, at Chefoo. The ediot vas
issued on the first day Q; the s.x;h moon
(July -. transmitted By the viceroy Liu
Kun-yih on July 20. and received by Min
lister WI CT July q The text fo'Ioss:
The present conflict between Gina and
the foreign powers ked its origin in the
IoIg s,cnding antagoHism between the Teo-
pie and CnristIaa missions. The suIse-
quent fall OF the Taku forts p-e1ipi.sted ire
meeting OF force with force. The Imperial
Government. having due regard TO the in
portaEce OF international intercourse, stI
refused 10 go so far IS to inteIrUUt TIE
existing relations.
I'VE have already repeatedly issued de-
crees providing for the protection Of ,he
foreign legations and also commanded the
proviGcial authorities TO protest mission
aries Inasmuch as there is stin no ces-
sation in the employment Of force. foreign
merchants and subjects residing in China
who form a numerous body in the country,
| should be protected without distinction
We hereby command all The Tartar Cen
erals and Governors General and Cover
nors Of Provinces 10 Iook after the foreign
merchants and missionaries living in The
open ports. procedures. departments. and
districts under their respective iurisdic-
tioa. and to afford them due protection in
/ accordance with treaty stipulaJions with
cut fail. Last month we heard. with pro-
/ found establishment and regret, OF the
T killing Of the Chancellor Of the japanese
. Legation. Sir. Akira. and The same fate
I bsfell the German Minister shortly after
ward The violent removal OF the Ger
man Minister, whose residence at tie
/ capital was necessary 70 the transaction Of
! business between the two countries affect
/ ed Us very deeply.
I IT is the duty OF the authorities con-
/ cerned 10 cause stringent orders for the
Z speedy arrest and punishment OF the mur-
derers 20 be carried ous- Since the com
mencement Of the attack on TientsIn there
are foreign subjects and missionaries who
I have. en- account Of 10. al disturbances. suf-
. fsred death or loss CT property through no
fault Of their own. We hereby command
I the Governor CT PekIn and the Vice-oy Of
. Chill to cause investigations 10 be made
/ By their respective sUbordinaJes Of all such
claims except those arising directly from
tine said attack. with a view 20 their uIJi-
mate settlement.
Moreover local outlaws and rebelIious
subjects have Of late given themselves up
10 burning. killing ana pIunderiEg to the
great disquieJ Of our loyal subjects This
IS an utter defiance Of law. We hereby
command the said General. Gov
4 ernc-s and commanders OF our forces 10 IL
vestigate the situation and TO take such
measures for the punishment OF the offend
/ ers and restoration Of order as-the Eecezsi-
ties Of the case demand. We hereby COM
msnd this. our general ediet 10 be made
known for the information Of all il may
concern Respect this"
Nj Wu declined to make any comment
on the edict saying merely that it spoke
for Itself