The Washington weekly post., 1900-10-09
Edict Received by Minister WI.


News to the effect that the effort TO in
duee the Chinese imperial court 10 return
to Pekin has failed, after a weeks persis-
tent effort on the part of the powers, was
brought TO the State Department yester-
day by the Chinese Minister, who received
it via st. Petersburg from Viceroys Liu
kun-Yih and Chang Chih-Tung, under
date OF October 4. It was as follows:
THE departure of their imperial ma
jesties for Shensi (province) was due TO
distressing conditions at Tai-yuen-fu.
There is a scarcity Of food supplies in the
province OF Shansi on account long con-
tinued drought; and the provincial capt.
tai CTai-yuen) Is almost deserted, the
tradespeople having left on account Of the
disturbances caused and continued for
months by the Boxer rebels. who had In
Vaded the province with the encourage
ment of Gov. Yu. Their majesties, there
fore, were obliged to proceed TO Shensi,
where telegraphic communication with
Shanghai and other parts of the empire
is opened and rapid communication with
their majesties may, therefore, be carried
on; thus, court and official business may
be transacted more expeditiously by their
presence in Shensi rather than in Shansi
The reasons for the temporary postpone
ment or their maJesties' return TO PekIn
are the presence of the allied forces there
on account of which solicitOus fear is
doubtless entertained, besides a dread Of
the outbreak OF endemic diseases which
usually follow after great disturbances,
destruction or property, and military op-
eratlons. IL Is hoped the powers will be
considerable in their Judgment in this mat
ter"
Significance Of the Msye.
The important feature of the message is
the confession that the court is restrained
by fear of the allied forces from return
ing 10 Pekin. The movement takes the
Emperor and Empress DoWager about SD
miles farther away from Pekin, though,
according TO the statements contained la
the message, by reason OF direct tele-
graphic communication with Shanghai.
the court practically viii be nearer for
purposes Of negotiation with the outside
world than 1t was at Tai-yuen.
Minister WI has been informed also
that Viceroy Yu. Of the province Just
vacated by the court, has been iInpeach-
ed because of his anti-foreign tendencies,
which Is the first step toward his degra-
dation. IL Is said there are no Boxers in
the newly chosen locality. so that the
court will have thrown off the hostile
influence recently surrounding Il.
The only disqUieting feature Of the
move comes fIom japanese adyices. stat
ing that the new point OF location is
| strongly fortified. which is some indics-
tion that the imperial family Is still In
Fight and Is seeking stronger defenses:
but the friendly yiceroys and Minister
Wa do not share in this view.
The Minister considers the question OF
| punishments practically disposed Of by
| the edict Of the Emperor and the Ger
mar and American notes exchanged last
week. The only difficulty he apprehends
| is in case the foreign ministers seek 20
| designate certain persons who shall b.
| punished, In addition 10 those which the
I government Itself marks for punishment.
/ Such course by TIE ministers. ne says.
would be hard 10 comply with but he
looks 20 the sagacity OF Ii Hung Chang
| and Prince Ching 70 overcome any sucn
difficulty