Evening star., 1900-10-01
Consul McWade Reports the Issue
Of Imperial Decree.
PERSONNEL OF CHINESE COMMISSION
Gen. Chaffee Sends Advices Re-
garding Withdrawal of Troops.
PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE

canton ConSul McWade reports the issue
of the decree Furnishing Tuan and his col
leagues, SO that there is no longer doubt
as to the accuracy of Shang's statement on
that point Mr.. Conger has also received
official notification of the Chinese peace
commission. which was already forecasted
by Minister Wu's advices several days ago.
Mr.. Conger makes no reference to the con-
demnatory decree, hence it is inferred that
it was not issued when his dispatch was
sent. last Thursday. The text of these two
dispatches is follows:
CANTON. China. October 1, 1900.
| Secretary of State, Washington:
decree just issued-emperor blames min
listers for whole trouble. Orders Tuan,
Kengi and other officials degraded and pun
ished by imperial courts. Emperor holds
bloCdshed. McWADE."
"PEKIN, September 81, 1900, via Taku.
September 30. 1900.
Secretary of State. Washington:
"Have received notice today from Prince
Ching that he. Earl Ii. Yung-lu and Vice
roys Tin Kun vi and Chang Chip-Iung will
act in concert in negotiations for peace.
Yung-lu is in the interior. Ii Hung Chang
is at Tien Tsin. CONGER.''
Personnel of the Com m issinn.
1t is evident that the two viceroys men,
toned are Lui-kun-yi the viceroy of Nam
king, and Chang-ehih-tung, the viceroy of
Wuchang. the difference in spelling being
due to telegraphic transmission. There has
been some question to YungLu being
member of the commission, but Mr.. Con-
gers dispatch settles that beyond doubt.
Minister Wu had already received an edict
naming Iung-Lu as one of the commission,
but this was questioned in other Chinese
quarters. The appointment is not likely 10
be satisfactory to any of the powers. as
YungLu has made himself almost as ohen-
sive as Prince Tuan He is generalissmo
of the imperial troops, and is regarded as
mainly responsible for the persistent fight
the legations during the crisis. The
other commissioners are highly acceptable.
Earl Lii and Prince Ching are already ia
vorably known, and the two yiceroys are
among the most pacific, enlightened and
pro-foreign men in the empire. 1t is the
understanding of Minister WI that the
viceroys will not go to Pekin to take part
in the negotiations. but will re consulted by
telegraph. Ii Hung Chang's long stay al
Tien Tsin Is exciting some comment, as
he is aware of the American instructions
to Minister Conger to open negotiations
with him at Pekin. 1t gives the idea that
Earl Ii is not fully satisfied that the re-
dictionary element is overcome at Pekln,
and is awaiting more positive assurances.
An Old Project.
The attention of the officials of the navy
being called to the report from Tien Tsin
that the United States is about to take
part III Il naval expeultlOn organizing dl
Taku for operations against Shan n-hai-kwan,
it stated that this report probably
ferred to an old project. Some time ago,
and while hostilities were in full progress.
movement against Shan-hai-kwan was
projected to div ert the Chinese from their
resistance to the progress of the Pekin
main column. With the fall OF Pekin the
necessity for such a movement disappeared,
and certainly the United States forces will
take no part in it if it Is revived by any
of the other powers. 1t is not deemed
good faith on our part to continue offensive
movements against the Chinese at this
time. Admiral Remey has reported to
Secretary Long that he will aid in the
withdrawal movement, and it is therefore
not expected that the Brooklyn will ac-
company the allies ship to Shan hal -kwan,
II they go at all.
Withdrawal of Our Troops.
Gen Chaffee reports that he is moving
with rapidity toward the execution of the
department orders relative to the with
drawal of his troops
Two messages were received from him
this morning They were follows:
TAKU, September 30, 1900.
Adjutant General, War Department, Wash
Health of command good. Have accept
ed invitation of hospital ship Maine to
transfer some ,convaescents to hospital ship
Relief, now repairing al Nagasaki.
CHAFFEE.
TAKU (no date).
Adjutant General, Washington:
a4Ltember %, 30; cable from Tien Tsin.
Received your No. AZ and 49, The 9tn
Infantry, third squadron 9th Cavalry and
light battery, will constitute legation guard.
Shall endeavor to get all supplies to Tung
Chow before water falls. CHAFFEE.
viii Aid Toward Settlement.
The determination of the Chinese govern
ment to punish the officials responsible for
the Boxer outrages is expected to advance
materially the efforts of the United States
for pacific and harmonious settlement of
the vexed Chinese question.
1t will be recalled that in our answer
the State Department careful to state
that while it did not believe in demanding
the surrender of the Chinese ringleaders
as condition precedent to negotia tions,
it was resolved firmly. as Secretary Hay had
said in his note of July 3, that In the end
the guilty parties should be held to the
uttermost accountability. The Chinese gov
ernment has taken this intimation to heart.
and, perhaps hastened in its action by the
recent manifestations of d1ssa tisfaction by
the United States government at the re-
ported promotion of Prince Tuan, already
has begun the punishment of him and the
other Chinese leaders who are held guilty.
The decree recited by Sheng is felt to be
Of the utmost Importance as indicating a
complete change of heart on the part of
the reigning dynasty. 1t means that the
dominant in Pekin throughout the upris-
ing. and have even continued of late days,
have suffered complete overthrow, and
that their most conspicuous figures are de-
graded and trial. 1t is believed here
that If this action is genuine, it will be
hard for any of the powers to find rea-
scnable pretext for longer refusing to heed
the appeals of the Chinese government for
the opening Of negotiations looking to
settlement
The Imperial Clan Court.
The Importance of the action is shown by
the determination to try Prince Tuan be-
fore the imperial clan court. This is the
supreme judicial tribunal of China and is
the only one having jurisdiction over the
members of the imperial family. It Is pre-
sided over by Prince Ii, with the WELL
known Prince Ching as first vice president.
Prince Ii is the first of the eight princely
families of China, and Is regarded as friend
ly to the progressive element. The ate..ude
of Prince Ching has been notable through
out the trouble as friendly to foreign inter-
ests. There are five other members of the
court, all of them high personages
Prince Chwang and Yih, who are ~