The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-21

aIize a Mistake Has Been Made.
PEKIN, Nov 20-via Taku, Nov. 20. and
Shanghai. Nov. 21-(6:15 a. N 1.-THE
ministers held another meeting yesterday,
but nothing was accomplished as several
of the representatives of the Powers had
not heard from their home Offices An
adjournment to an undesignated date was
taken
AT the meeting the ministers talked OF
the edict issued by the Empress Dowager
OF November 13 for the punishment OF
princes and officials responsible for the
present trouble.
II was the unanimous opinion that the
punisbments ordered we're insufh~ lent.
and that the edict had injured instead
of helping China's cause. It can be
stated On the best authority that the
Chinese Peace Commissioners here, Il
Hung Chang and Prince Ching. are dis
eusted and realize that a mistake was
made in issuing such an edict at the
present time.
The ministers are particularly incensed
at the punishment of Prince Tuan, who
IS banished to Moukdon, which is his
home. They say this is something like
"banishing'' New Yorker from China TO
New York.
Nevertheless, it must be said that ban
ishment to his native place, where he IS
to be imprisoned pending trial, is one of
the most disgraeefuI punishments in the
eyes of Chinese that could be inflicted on
Prince Tuan. This is proved by an exam
ination of past edicts. 1t is also ae-
knowledged that the promise of the pun
ishment of General Tung-fuh-siang in the
future was much beyond what was hoped
for.
officials who are most familiar with the
Chinese characteristics say nothing should
be done to induce the Empress Dowager
to return TO Pekin. She appears 10 be the
only person possessed Of the idea that it
will be impossible TO do without her These
persons say the edict OF November Is and
the nc+e which she sent to / Hung Chang
with the official decree in which she told
him that he and Prince Ching would be
held responsible for the further delay IN
the opening of the negotiations shows that
she is lacking in the spirit Of meekness
which the Powers seem determined TO in
stu ii her before they finish
They say the edict is really her ultima
tum and that what she orders il that
decree is as far as she viii go to settle
the trouble. II is suggested by some Peo-
pie that a further exhibition of the spirit
Of meekness on her part might be desir-
able before word is sent to her TO return
Otherwise the Powers may decide TO place
some one else on the throne and leave
her in exile.
Sir Ernest Satow, the new British Min
lister, yesterday returned to Prince Su the
silver which was looted from his house
after the entrance of the allies Prince Su,
who gave up his home for the protection
Of native Christians, during the siege, has
been poverty stricken ever since the relief
of the legations
Prince Su, one of the eight royal princes,
is cD the verge of poverty. He is living
in ore room, the furniture OF which con-
sists of TWO chairs and table. His stock
of provisions is very low and he has little
if any money with which 70 purchase fresh
supplies. Prince Su was sufficiently friend
iy to the foreigners during the siege to
desert his house at an opportune moment,
thus giving $50 native Christians a place
Of refuge They afterward abandoned
part of the house, which was subsequent
ly blown up by Boxers and looted.
Sir Claude Macdonald, the former Brit
ish Minister. who has recently been trans
ferred to Japan, left Prince Su's silver in
the Legation, and Sir Ernest satow was
not aware who was the original owner un-
til DR.. Morrison, the correspondent of the
London Times, requested that at least
a part OF The loot should be returned to
Prince Su. When the Minister heard the
story, he ordered that all of the silver
should be returned at once. This is the
first case where any loot of this kind has
been returned and the precedent is not
likely to be followed generally.
The Italian troops that were in the Pao-
ting-fu expedition returned here today,
wearing fur coats. When they entered the
town, the natives at first presented them
with silk umbrellas and banners and fow-
ers. The Italians told the residents that
these things were useless, but that some
useful presents such as furs would be CRATE
fully accepted. The people acted on the
suggestion and furnished fur coats to the
entire command They also handed the
colonel commanding the Italians, 10000
taels