The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-22
SUAVE ISUNG Il YANEN
ADROTT CHINAMEN In THE FOR
EIGN OFFICE AT
PICKING
NEVER TRANSACT BUSINESS
Eight Members of the Board Meet
and Listen to What the For
eign Ministers Have
to Say.

The phrase "tsung II yamen" occurs In
the news dispatches from China with
| such frequency that word of explana-
ton is In order for those who have not
yet dtgested a Chinese American diction-
airy. The first time the reading public
knew there was such a thing as a tsung
II yamen was when Minister Conger pro-
tested to it that the Boxers were en-
dangering the peace and safety of for
eigners in China. The tsung II yamen, so
the press dispatches said, was very con-
ciliatory in its reply, promising adequate
reforms and protection to all foreigners
Next came the news that the tsung If
yamen confessed its inability to put down
the Boxers; then Baron Won KetteIer. the
German minister at Picking, started on
horseback for the tsung Ii yamen, but,
as every one knows, was pulled off his
horse and killed before reaching it. His
escort, however, reached the tsung II va
men and burned 1t. Even after this ca
lamity the tsung II yamen appeared in
the newspapers, and naturally there are
inquiries from the curious as to just
what this Chinese tsung II yamen is
Tie Chinese tsung Ii yamen CORE
spends in some respects to our own state
department, or, rather, the foreign Of
fee" as some Of the local clerks like to
call it. The tsung Ii yamen, however,
lacks authority. 1t can only muteIy lis
ten to representa- tons from the ministers
and promise to call the attention of high
er authorities to the matter. 1t cannot
take positive action, though It pretends
to do so. Concerning the office and its
functions, Archibald r, Colquhoun the
known fr9 Wal md nth IN,
his book on China in Transformation"
The tsung II yamen, or office of for
eigr affairs, was established by imperial
decree in January, 1861. 1t was the first
step made by the imperial authorities to
admit of diplomatic relations in the capt.
tai. 1t WAS originally composed of three
ministers, who were also members of
other boards, but It's numbers increased
from time to time, and now stand at
eight-three Manchus and five Chinese.
This new creation never acquired any
authority until the pressure of external
events compelled the emperor's council
to make use of it and to recognize 1t as
an integral part Of the government. 1t
was not until 1890 that 1t first figured in
the Red Book, a complete record of state
departments.
1.-THE tsung Ii yamen was at first
disappointment. It fell into the condi-
ton of an ordinary government depart
ment, with special vices of its own, an
institution for the prevention of business.
Its fatal incapacity lay In the fact that
it was a body without a head, for,
though there was always a nominal pres
ident, he absented himself when he chose
from the daily attendance. This habit
of evading responsibility was so fully de-
veloped In China that 1t seemed as If
the new foreign board in Picking had no
other reason for existence.
PERMITS PROTESTS TO COOL
"The yamen, until forced into greater
activity by events resulting from the Jap
anese war, served merely as the cold wa
ter which extinguished the hot irons
thrust into 1t by the ardor of the foreign
agents To transact business with the