Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-07-12
DlsCLAlMlNG RESPONSIBILITY.
Imperial Government Trying to Shift IL to
the Foreigners.

the Foreigners.
Washington, July 11.-An imperial
decree, dated June Goth was received
by telegraph today by Minister WI
from the taotao of Shanghai, trans
mitted on July 1st from the treasurer
of tho Chilli Province, who received it
by special coui Ter on June Both from
the Board Of War, who in turn received
Il from the priyy council in Pekin.
The decree says: sin the first place,
there arose In the Provinces of Chilli
and Shang Tung kind Of rebellious
subjects, who had been in the habit of
practicing boxing and fencing ia their
respective villages and at the same time
clothing thoir doings with spirituaistic
and strange rites. The local authorities
failed to take due notice of them at
the time. Accordingly, the infection
spread with astonishing rapidity."
Continuing, the decree states that
the infection within month reached
the CAPITAL itself, and lawless and
treacherous persons began to cry down
with Christianity. Churches were
request Of the foreign Powers, the i'm
rorial government. las an extraordinary
mark of courtesy beyond the require
permitted 500 foreign troops to be sent
TO Pekin, to guard the legations.
The decree then states that from the
time these troops entered the city, the
guards did not devote themselves ex-
clusipely to the protection of their
legations.
They fred their guns from the top of
the city walls. and sometimes patrolled
IN al 70 vxr,b
reported being hit by stray bullets, and
the guards only desisted from entering
the eastern gate of the palace grounds
when positively forbidden.
"Lawless persons, the decree con-
| tinues, took advantage Of the situa-
| tion to do mischief, and became holder
| than ever in burning and killing Chris
| tian converts. The Powers thsreupon
attempted To reinforce the foreign
! troops IN Pekin, but the reinforcements
encountered resistance and defeat at
the hands of the insurgents on the way,
and have not yet been able to proceed.
| The insurgents of the two Provinces of
Chilli and Shan Tung had by this
time effected complete union, and
could not Ee separated. The imperial
| government was by no ,neaus reluctant
| to issue orders for the entire suppress
sion Of this insureent element. But,
as the trouble WAS so near at hand,
there was great fear that due proteo-
| tion might not be assured to the lega-
lions il the anarchists should be driven
TO extremities, thus bringing on ma
tional calamity. There was also a fear
that uprisirgs might occur In the Prov
inoes OF Chilli ard Shan Tung ut the
same time, with the result that both
| foreign missionaries and Chinese con
verts in the two provinces might fall
victims to popular fury. 1t was, there
fore, absolutely necessary to consider
the matter fiom every point of view.
As measure of preoaution, it was
finally decided to request the foreign
ministers to relire temporarily to
Tientsin for safety. 1t was while the
discussion of this proposition was In
4 progress that the German minister.
| Baron Won Ketteler, was assassinated
by riotous mob one morning while on
his way to the rsune Ii Yarnen.
"Since that occurrence" the decree
adds, 1.-THE anarchists became colder
and more threatening, and, instead OF
sending the diplomatic corps to Ten.
tsiu, 1t was ordered that the troops
keep stricter watch over the legations. u
ITO our surprise" the decree CON.
tinues, foreign tnayall officers al
Taku called upon Lo jung kwang, the
general commanding, and demanded
his surrender of the forces, notifying
him that, failing to receive compliance,
they would at 2 o'clock the next day
take steps to seize the forts by force.
10 Jung Kwang, being bound by the
duties Of the office to hold the forts,
how could he yield to the demand? On
the day named, they actually first fired
upon the forts, which responded, and
kept up the lighting all day, and then
surrendered. Thus, the conflict Of
forces begun, but certainly the initia-
tive did not come from our side, Even
| surprising that China were not con-
scious Of her true condition, how could
she take such a step as to engage in
wal with all the Powers simultaneously,
and how could she, relying upon the
| support of anarchistio ropulace, go into
war with the Powers? Our position in
this matter ought to be clearly under
stood by all the Powers. The above is
a statement of the wrongs we have
| suffered, and how China was driven to
the unfortunate position from which
she could not escape"
The decreee concludes with the an.
nouncement "that military authorities
are still strictly enjoined to afford pro.
lection to the legations, as hitherto, to
the utmost of their power. As for the
anarchists, they will be severely dealt