The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-12-13
ENGLAND DILATORY.
Causes Delay I'm the Chinese Eeg'
tiutiOnH

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& -------- Eas ss89E n
Causes Delay I'm the Chinese Nego-
tiati0nR.
4 Pekin, Dec. 1.-THE dilatoriness on
the part of the British foreign office in
instructing it's minister Is responsible
for the delay in signing the prelim-
mary demand note which is to be pre-
scented to the Chinese government
through Ii Hung Chang and Prince
Ching. All the other allies have agreed
to the preliminary demands and also
to the language of the full note, the
text of which was cabled to. England
several days ago. AS soon as the
British representative receives his
instructions another meeting Of the
ministers will be called Unless his in
.structions demand an alteration in the
preliminary note, which it Is believed
will not be the case, and unless some
of the other governments change their
attitude radically, the
Note VIII BE Signed
and presented to the Chinese repre-,
sentatives. The question Of credentials
has again been raised. When DIR.
Mum Won Schwartzenstein, the Ger,
man minister. arrived at Shanghai he
saw III Hung Chang and asked to see
his credentials. Earl Ii informed him
that he had received an edict by tele
graph appointing himself and Prince
Ching representatives of the Chinese
government with full powers. He
added that he could produce the ere
dentials whenever necessary. Again
at Tien-tsin DR.. Mum Won Schwartz
enstein made a similar request Of Ii
Hung Chang and received similar
answer. 1T transpires that neither
Chinese commissioner has received an
official copy Of the edict appointing
them bearing the great seal, etc. The.
ministers do not question the state
nents of the commissioners that they
are duly authorized to treat in behalf
sof the Chinese government. but they
know that in dealing with the Chinese
1T is unsafe to assume anything or to
take anything for granted, SO they
again demanded
To See the Credentials.
The commissioners then acknowledged
that they had received nothing beyond
the edict. They were informed that
this was insufficient. III Hung Chang
spoke OF the distance of the court
from Pekin, the roads to Singan-F'u,
the present seat of government, and
the long time that would be required
to get certified cory Of the edict.
This plea was unayailing. Late on
Fiday Ii Hung Chang sent word to
one Of the ministers informing him
that owing to the destruction Of the
tsung Ii yamun no copy of his Gre
dentiaIs as commissioner was avail
able as model and he asked the
minister to lend him his copy. This
request was granted. Iii Hung Chang
also stated that when the court fled
from Pekin the great seal was left
in the Forbidden City, and he asked II
the arrival of a certified copy of the
edict without the great seal would be
satisfactory, the seal TO be attached
when the edict reaches Pekfn. This
question is in allegiance. 5
Offended ut Gen. Chaffee.
London, Dec. II. Gen. Ckaffee
wrote a letter to Coun Won Waldersee,
says the Pekin correspondent Of the
Morning Post, complaining Of the re-
mOVdI 3Dy PFTeuCE anu GeFiIldH lEOopS9
of the astronomical instruments from
the wall Of Pekin, but the letter was
returned to him on account Of its tone.
He has notified the foreign ENJOYS
that all persons are prohibited passing
the American guard on entering the
south gate OF the palace, owing to the 1
frequet cases of footing. The minis
tiers are offended at this Individual as
sumption Of authority