New-York tribune., 1900-07-12

from North
things and accordingly cannot lay the views Of
the Government before the Ministers for For
eign Affairs of the respective Powers TO which
they are accredited. Now we take this oppOr-
tunity Of going fully into the matter for the in
formation OF our representatives aforesaid.
IN the first place, there arose in the provinces
Of Chilli and Shan-Tung kind Of rebellious
subjects who had been in the habit of practising
boxing and fencing in their respective villages.
and al the same time clothing their dOings with
splrltuaIstlc and strange rites The local au-
JhoT1tIes failed 10 take due notice Of them at
the time. Accordingly the infection spread with
astonishing rapidIty- Within the space Of
month It seemed 10 make its appearance every
where, and finally even reached the capital
itself. Every one looked upon the movement
as supernatural and strange and many joined it.
Then there were IawIess and treaCherOus per-
sons who sounded the cry Of Down with Chris
tianity," About the middle of the fifth moon
without warning churches were burned ana
converts were killed. The whole city in
not be brought under control At first the for
elgn Powers requested that foreign troops be
allowed 10 enter the capital for the protection
Of the legations. The Imperial Government
having in view the comparative urgency of the
occasion. granted the request as an eXtraordl-
nary mark of courtesy beyond the requirements
Of international Intercourse over five hundred
troops were sent to Peking. This shows clearly
how much China exercised in the matnte-
nance Of friendly relations with other countries.
ACTION OF GUARDS CRITICISED.
The legations at the capital never had much
to do with the people But from the time for
eign troops entered the city the guards did not
devote themselves exclusively TO the protection
Of their respective legations. They sometimes
fired their guns on top Of the city walls, and
sometimes patrOlled the streets everywhere
There were repeated reports of persons being
hit by stray bullets. Moreover, they stroued
about the city without restraint, and even at
tempted to enter the Tung-Hua gate (the east
ern gate Of the palace grounds). They only de-
sisted when admittance was positively forbid
den On this unit both the soldiers and the
people were pT1VN- ed 10 reseu utment. and voiced
their indignat. n 18th one accord. Lawless per
sons then took advantage Of the situation do
mischief, and became bolder than ever in burn
ing and killing Christian converts
The Powers thereUpOn ATTEMPTED TO reinforce
the foreign troops in Peking, but the reinforce
ments encountered resistance and defeat at the
hands Of the insurgents on the way. and have
not yet peen able 10 proceed The insurgents
Of the two provinces Of Chill and Shan-Tung
had by this time effected complete union, and
could not De separated. The Imperial Govern
nent was by no means reluctant 10 issue orders
for the entire suppression OF this insurgent ele-
raent But as the trouble was so near at hand
there was q great fear that due protection might
not be assured TO the legations II the
chists should be driven extremities. thus
bringing q national calamity. There also
was a fear that uprlslngs might occur in the
provinces Of Chilli and Shan-Tung at the same
time, with the result that both foreign mission
aries and Chinese converts in the two provinces
might fau victims 70 popular fury. It was
therefore absolutely necessary TO consider the
matter from every point Of view. AS q measure
Of precaution il was finally decided TO request
the foreign Ministers TO retire temporarily TO
Tien-Tsin for safety.
ASSASSINATION OF Won RETTELER
It was while the discussion Of this proposition
was in progress that the German Minister.
Baron Won KetteIer. was assasstnated by riot
Gus mob one morning while on his way TO the
Tsung-li- Yamen On the previous day the Ger
man Minister had written a, letter appointing a
time for calling at the Tsung-Ii- Yamen. But
the YaTnen, fearing he might be molested on
the way, did not consent TO the appointment as
suggested by the Minister.
Since this occurrence the anarchists assumed
q. more bold and threatening attitude and con-
sequently it was not deemed wise TO carry out
the project Of sending the diplomatic corps 10
Tien-Tsin under an escort However, orders
were issued TO the troops detailed Tor the pro-
lection Of the legations TO keep sLrlcter WaLch
and take greater precautlon against any eFner-
gency. To our surprise, on the 10th OF the nrth
moon June 16), foreign (naVal0 officers at
TaIu called upon Lo Jung Kwang the general
commanding and demanded hts surrender or the
forts, informing him that falling 10 receive com
pliance, they would at o'clock the next day
take steps TO seize the forts by force Lo Jung
Kwang being bound by the duties Of his ONCE
nand2 on the day named they actually first
fred upon the forts which responded and kept
up a fghting all day and then surrendered
NOT AT WAR WITH THE POWERS.
Thus the conflict Of forces began, but GER
+aiuIv the initiative did not come from side
of her true condition, how could she take such
step as 10 engage in war with all the Powers
y
the support OF anarchistic populace. go into
war with the Powers?
our position in this matter ought TO be clearly
understood by all the Powers The above IS a
sfa+eYnent Of the wrongs we have suffered. and
how China was driven 70 the unfortunate posi-
+for from which she could not escape.
our several Ministers viii make known &C
civ and in detail the Of this decree
and the policy Of China TO the Ministers OF For
e{0n Affairs in their respective countries, and
assure them that military authorities are Sun
+,4tI,, en5oined 70 afford protection TO the le-
cations as hitherto to the utmost Of their power
As for the anarchists, they will be severely
daaIt With as circumstances permit
The several Ministers viii continue IN the dis
cbarge of the duties Of their offices as hitherto
nitrous hesitation or doubt This teegraphic
decree to be transmitted for their information.
Respect this.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT GRATIFIED.
Secretary Hay. who has had no reason to
doubt the sincerity Of Minister Wu's assurances
on the subject, believes that this remarkable
document is authentic and has no doubt OF Its