The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-24
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to the State Department. 1t was put
in the proper diplomatic form and a copy
delivered to Minister WI, who is to
| forward it to his own Government.
The Imperial edict made public today
| at the State Department shows that the
| Imperial Government already has taken
| the first steps toward doing what the
| United States Government requires as
the principal condition, exercise of its
good offices, in enjoining the Viceroys,
magistrates and leading men to stop
the disorders and protect foreigners. Our
Government will await the result of
this before proceeding further.
1t is expected that adverse criticism
upon the action of the State Department
in this matter will be heard from Europe
where the Governments are acting upon
the belief that all of the foreign min
listers in Pekin have perished, but our
Government nevertheless regards it's
course as the correct one. All of the
European powers have taken the stand
above Indicated The last of the an
swers to Secretary Hays note reciting
the Conger messages have come and all
of them, in terms polite and diplomatic,
| ITCHY of the Conger message.
| Consul General Goodnow himself, a
man of good judgment also cabled a
| warning to Secretary Hay against the
| acceptance of the message without con-
| firmation. But the State Department
] has fully considered the message in all
| Of its aspects. has carefully weighed
| the numerous objections and suspicious
anteeing the authenticity of the message,
| feels it to be matter of prime duty to
| act upon the theory that it is genuine.
| Admiral Remey's notification to the
| Navy Department that he had gone in
person up the Pei Ho from Taku to Tien
| Tsin is attributed to the receipt by him
of Secretary Longs urgent message to
hasten the efforts to get to Pekin, and
/ important news from him is expected
| soon.
The War Department, it appears, un-
/ derestimates the time that would be re-
quired for the Grant to arrive at Naga-
saki She sailed on the 1st instant, so
that she is not yet quite at the point
i with General Chaffee.
AN IMPERIAL EDICC.
Washington, July 23.-The State De-
partment has made public the following
text of an edct delivered today by Min
lister WI to Secretary Hay. This is the
edict referred to by United States Con-
sui Fowler at Che Foo, in his pessage
received here yesterday:
IAN imperial edict issued on the st
day Of the sixth noon (July 18th. transmit
ted by the Viceroy Ii Kunih on the 20th
OF July and received by Minister Wa
on the 21st of July at o'clock.
THE present conflict between China aud
the foreign powers had it's origin in the
long standing antagonism between Inc
people and Christian missions. The SUBJ
sequent fall of the Taku forts precipita-
ted the meeting of force with force. The
imperial government, having due re-
gard to the Importance of international
| intercourse, still refused to go SO far as
to interrupt the existing relations. We
have already repeatedly issued DEGREES
providing for the protection of the for
eign legations and also commanded the
provincial authorities to protect mission
aries. Inasmuch as there is still no ces-
sation in the employment of force, for
eign merchants residing in China who
form a numerous body in the country
should be protected without distinction
We hereby command all the Tartar gen.
erals, governors general and governors OF
provinces to look after the foreign mer-
chants and Missionaries living in the open
| ports, prefectures, departments and dis
tricts under their respective jurisdiction
and to afford them due protection in ac-
F, cordance with treaty stipulations without
fail. Last month we heard with profound
z..l...
| of the chancellor of the Japanese lega-
tion, Mr.. Akira and the same fate befell
the German Minister shortly afterward
The violent removal of the German Minis
ter whose residence at the capital was
necessary to the transaction of business
between the two Countries, affected us
very deeply. 1t is the duty of the au-
thorities concerned to cause stringent or
ders, speedy arrest and punishment ci
the murderers to be carried out.
"Since the commencement of the at
tack in Tien Tsin, there are foreign sub
jects and missionaries who have, on ac-
count of local disturbances, suffered death
or loss of property through no fault oi
their own. We hereby command the Gov
ernor of Pekin and the Viceroy of Chi
Ii to cause Investigations to be made
by their respective subordinates of all
such claims except those arising directly
from the said attack with view to theil
ultimate settlement Moreover, local out
laws and rebellious subjects have of late
given themselves up to burning killing
and plundering to the great disquiet Of
, our local subjects This Is an utter de-
: fance Of law. We hereby command the
} said governors general governors ant
/ commanders of our forces to investigate