The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-07-17
CHINA D|SAVOWS
RESPONSIBILITY
FOR PEK|N CRISIS
Declares 1t Was Precipitated
by the Attack on the
Taku Forts.
NOT FOOLISH ENOUGH
TO FIGHT THE WORLD
The Government Most Anxious to Put
Down Rebellion and Protect
the Foreigners.
so SAYS AN IMPERIAL DECREE ISSUED
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE POWERS
Chinese Priyy Council Declares Conduct OF
Foreign Guards in Pekin Made Bad Mat
tiers Worse. Admiral Remey With Part
of 9th Regiment Probably at
Taku. Allies at Ten Tsin
Hard Pressed.
By thea ssociated Press.)

Washington, July 11.-An imperial de-
cree dated Sd day of 9th moon was re
ceived by telegraph today by Minister
WI, from the Taotai OF Shanghai, trans
mitted on July LIST from the Treasurer
of the Chih Ii Province, who received
it by special courier DC !che Goth from
the Board of War, who in turn received
it from the Privy Council in Pekin. The
decree is as follows:
THE circumstances which led to the
commencement OF fighting between chi
ncSe and foreigners We're Of such a COM
pleX, confusing and unfortunate character
as 10 to be entirely unexpected. Our
diplomatic representatives. abroad, owing
to their distance from the scene CT ac-
ton, nave had no means Of moving
the true state Of things, and accordingly
cannot lay the views Of the Government
before the Ministers for Foreign Affairs
OF the respective paWer to which they
are accredited. Now we take this OPP
portunity Of going fully ito the matter
for the information OF our representatives
aforesaid.
RISE OF THE BOXERS.
IN the first place, there arose III the
provinces Of Chih Ii and Shan Tung q
kind Of rebellious subjects, who had been
in the habit of practicing boxing and
fencing in their respective villages, and
at the same time clothing their doings
with spiritualistic and strange rites. The
local authorities failed to take due no
tice Of them at the time. Accordingly
the infection spread with astonishing ra-
pidity. Within the space OF a month II
seemed to make its appearance every
where, and finally even reached the CAPT.
tai itself. Everyone looked upon the
movement as supernatural and strange
and many joined. Then there were law
less and trcacherOus persons, who sound
ed the cry of Down With Christianity"
About the middle of the fifth IOOn, these
persons began to create disturbances.
Without warning churches We're burned
and converts were killed. The whole
city was in a ferment. A situation was
created, which could not be brought I'M
der control. At first the foreign powers
requested that foreign troops be allowed
to enter the capital for the protection
of the legations. The Imperial Govern
ment, having in view the comparative
urgency of the occasion, granted the re-
quest as an extraordinary mark Of co4"-
tesy beyond the requirements OF inter-
national intercourse. Over five hundred
1CICISu JloODS Z oShb " CNHi- 1''S
shows clearly how much care China
exercised in the maintenance of friendly
relations with other countries.
CONDUCT OF FOREIGN GUARDS.
ssThe Legations at the capital never
had much 0 do with the paop'e But
from the time foreign troops entered the
city the guards did not devote themselves
exclusively to the protection OF their
Respective Legations. They sometimes
fired their guns on top of the city walls
and sometimes patrolled the streets ey-
erywhere. There were reDeated reports
Of persons being hit by stray bullets.
Moreover they strolled about the city
without restraint, and even attempted
to enter the Tun Hua gate (the eastern
gate of the palace grOunGs). They only
desisted when admittance was positively
forbidden. On this account both the SOL
diers and the people were provoked to
resentment and voiced their Indignation
with one accord. LaWless persons then
took advantage of the situation to do mis-
chief, and became holder than ever IL
burning and killing Christian converts.
The powers t~hereupon attempted to rein
force the foreign troops, but the rein
forcements encountered resistance and
defeat at the hands OF the insurgents on
Tie way liz lave Ioe ySI b1SI obiC "
proceed. The insurgents of the two prov
inces of Chih Ii and Shan Tung had by
this time effected a complete union and
could not be separated. The imperial Gov
ernment was by no means reluctant to
issue orders for the entire suppression
of this iEsurgent element. But as the
trouble was SO near at hand. there was
q great fear that during it the protec-
tion might not be assured the legation
lists if the anarchists should be driven tC
extremities, thus bringing on a national
calamity. There also was a fear that up
risingS might occur in the provinces OF
Chih Ii and Shan Tung at the same
time with the result that both foreign
missionaries and Chinese converts in the
two provinces might fall victims to pop
ular fury. 1t was, therefore,, absolutely
necessary to consider the matter from
every point of view"
KETTELER MURDERED BY A MOB.
AS a measure of precaution it wa:
finally decided to request the foreign
Ministers to retire temporarily to Tie1
Tsin for safety. 1t was while the discus.
sion of this proposition was in progress.
that the German Minister, Baron Vol