The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-09
China is Beginning to Make
Clear Her Position
Regarding Her Relations With
Foreign Powers.
EMPEROR TO RETURN.
Will Go Back to PekiH When
Allied Troops Leave
And He Receives Sufficient
Guarantee of Safety.

PelSin., Saturday, Oct6.-Prince Ching
has received an edict from the emperor
dated October / in reply to a note sent
at the request Of the legations. saying
he will return to PeiJin as soon as the
negotiations take a favorable turn
Washington, Oct.9.-The Chinese min
lister said today that. if the powers re-
garded 1t as essential that the emperor
and empress dowager should return 10
Pelin, he was quite confident this could
be brought about, first by giving posi-
tive assurances for the personal safety
of their majesties, and then as plain eN-
idence Of this assurance, directing tnaC
the bulk of the allied forces now at Pc
kin be withdrawn to Ticn Tsin, Yang
Tsun or some other point. leaving only
a few hundred troops at PeNin as
guard
by the announcement he conveyed 10
the state department that the imperial
family had postponed their return 10
Pekin because of the presence there OF
the allied forces and by the regrets over
this announcement both among officials
in Washington and at foreign capitals
Il am as sorry as one can be that
their maJesties do not see their way
clear to return to Pekin, said Mr.. W "a.
"but in the circumstances, is It not nat
ural they should take this course They
have been brought UP in extreme eN-
of the outside world and of the customs
of foreigners. when they withdraw. the
allied forces occupied the city. II has
been divided into districts to be patroll-
ed and managed. 1t is said that the al
lied troops have marched through the
imperial palace. These steps must nat
urally have produced a profound effect
on the imperial family. Suppose cOndl-
tions We're reversed and an allied force
occupied one of the foreign capitals,
would the ruler return while the foreign
forces We're at his capitalY It Is said
that the forces are being reduced TO le-
cation guards but If each legation guard
numbers about ., 900 men, that makes an
aggregate force Of 10000 men for the
eight powers, or II each quota is not
full, say the aggregate force lis about
10000 men. An army Of 10000 men is a
very considerable force in any city
Consider the influence that an army ~
10,O 900 men would exert If stationed hers
in Washington. While I am extremely
sorry that their majesties do not return
to Pekin. it does not seem surprising ia
the existing circumstances that they
should not want to return"
Minister Wu was asked what steps
could be taken to bring about their re-
turn to Pekin.
ut seems to me-" he said. that the
most natural course would be 70 remove
the conditions which stand in the way
of their return. Any fears they may en-
tertatn would be overcome very largely
by strong assurance from the powers of
the personal safety OF their maJesties.
Then, as a clear evidence to them that
this safety was assured. the foreign
forces should be Withdrawn from the
capital, say to Tien Tsin. If Tien Tsin
is too far, then Yang Tsun might be a
desirable point to garrison with the all
lied forces. I have no doubt the return
Of the emperor and empress dowager to
the capital would speedily follow"