Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-07
Representatives of the Powers De-
mand Suppression Of Boxers"
Two MONTHS IN WHICH 10 COMPLY
Audience on March 8 Said to
Have Been a Farce.
EMPEROR IN BAD SHAPE

| LONDON. April IA special dispatch
| from Shanghai announces that the Ameri-
can British, German and French ministers
have sent joint note to the Chinese for
eign office demanding the total suppression
1 of the society of Boxers within two
| months, and announcing that otherwise the
powers mentioned will land troops and
march into the interior northern provinces
Shan Tung and Chi Ii, in order to secure
| the safety of foreigners.
According to the same dispatch the Amer
| ican Italian and French legations are now
provided with naval guards from the large
gathering of warships at Taku.
Liu Kun Yih, viceroy of Liang Kiang,
has had three audiences with the dowager
| empress relative to the emperor, and it is
believed that he has impressed her with
the advisability Of restoring his majesty to
power.
Audience Was n Farce.
TACOMA, Wash. April 7.-Oriental ad-
vices relate that the audience of foreign
minister's by the Chinese emperor. the
empress dowager and the heir apparent, on
March 8. was 4 disgraceful farce. Accord
ing to 4 Pekin dispatch the ministers We're
shabbly treated and given to understand
they were not wanted The emperor spoke
but one word. That was when he drew
out of his sleeve the reply to the ministers
congratulations and handed 1t to Prince
ChenE. He appeared STOPPING and feeble
glancing furtively along the line of visitors
as if sadly hoping to see the face Of some
friend.
Watched by His Aunt.
His aunt, the dowager empress. observed
every movement through cautiously lifted
curtains The audience over in ten
minutes, when. amid the usual celestial
assisted to their chairs. Several OF those
dgnitaries knew too little of palace eti-
quette TO refrain from turning their backs
upon the emperor. The emperor looked
very pale and is believed to be slowly dying
of poison. Reports say the coronation robes
for the new emperor have been ordered,
and that kwang Isu's coffin mas been sent
for. as is customary when th" emperor
reaches the age of thfrty-SiN years.
The empress doWager has received a
beautiful china vase from the pope. through
the apostolic delegate in Pekin, as an ex-
preston of gratitude for the protection of
Roman Catholic worship in China.
No News From Minister Conger.
1t is said at the State Department that
nothing has been heard from United States
Minister Conger within the last few days
to indicate any substantial change in the
situation in Shan Tung. The minister has
not informed the department of the re-
ported concerted action of the representa-
tives of the foreign powers at Pekin 1t is
known here that SO far the United States
minister is concerned. nothing has been
done to commit the United States govern
ment to action in combina ton with the
powers. Mr.. Congers instructions enable
MN TO make as strong a presentation as he
might Geem necessary of the desire of his
government that full protection should te
extended to the American residents in
China. 1t was entirely competent for him
COllcn demand Gt lar
and even tG intimate the intention of the
United States government to undertake
through Its own agencies 10 supply the
needed protection to its citizens, should the
Chinese government fail in its duty in that
matter. In doing this Mr.. Conser might
nave acted in precisely the same line as
retpresentatives of some Of the great Eu-
rpean powers at Pekin. but the officials
are confident that he did not become n
party to any concert Of action The United
states minister was specifically instructed on
that Point that he must act on his own ae-
sponsibility, and, while his co,lrs,. ,cight lie
parallel to that followed V the Other min
listers resident in Pekin, he must under ro
circumstances join with them in a concert
Has Not Asked for Warshfp.
Just how far the minister has gone in the
direction indicated is at present unknown
here. The naval officers do not believe that
he has yet summoned a naval force from
Admiral Watson's command to guard his
legation at Pekin for in such case they as
| sumo that the naval commander addressed
would have notified the Navy Department
by cable. The minister appears to have
anticipated the necessity for something of
the kind, however. for month ago he sug-
gested TO the State Department the ex-
pediency of having a warship from Admiral
Watsons fleet sent to a point as near Pekin
as possible. The Wheeling was accordingly
dispatched from Manila to Taku, which lies
at the mouth of the Pieho river The Wi
mington, from her light draft NAV easiIy
ascend the river as far as Tientsin, one of
the storm centers at this moment. and a
point giving easy access by rail to Pekin
IL was over this route that marines were
sent to Pekin from one Of the United States