The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-09-30
TUAN MUST BE DISMISSED.

NEW YORK. Sept. "a special to
the Times from Washington says:
II the protest regarding the appoint
ment Of Prince Tuan. forwarded by
Minister WI Ting Fang. remains with
out effect and Tuan is kept in the privy
council. the United States VIII refuse
to negotiate with China unless assur-
ances are given that the action Of the
ENJOYS shall not be subject to review
by the Chinese emperor.
This is an unusual step but the cir
cumstances Of the case are held to
make It necessary. In the ordinary
course Of diplomatic procedure. SOW
ereign would have the right to accept
or reject a treaty negotiated by his
ENJOYS. II Tuan is kept in the privy
council it Is certain that the peace
treaty would have to pass through his
hands In order TO get to the emperor.
and to prevent that the United States
viii insist that the emperor dives. him
self OF all powers by making those of
Prince Ching and Earl Ii absolute.
When Ching and Ii were first ap-
pointed. the Chinese papers announcing
their appointment were somewhat am
blguous. Some Of the powers were told
that Ii and Ching were invested with
full authority 20 negotiate peace while
others were told that their proceedings
were subject TO review by the emperor.
II is learned today that the United
States insisted on a definite UNDER
standing with the result that the pow
ers Of Ching and Ii were broadly de-
fined by the Chinese government Be-
fore negotiating. however. the United
States win insist on having It definite
ly understood that no papers shall pass
through the privy council.
This is all based on the assumption
that the Chinese government win re-
fuse to dismiss the new privy council !
lor 1t is absolutely necessary that
such a demand should be made. for the
reason that the first demand of the
peace ENJOYS win be for the degrada-
ton Of Tuan and the punishment OF |
the Boxer chiefs. and it is evidently 1
impossible that such demand should .
be submitted to him even for trans
mission to the emperor.
Nothing is known here of the al
legged appointment of Wang Wen Chao I
to succeed Tuan in the privy council.
Wang has been described as friendly
to the foreigners. and the fabricated |
story about the massacre Of the minis
ters in Pekln told how Wang was killed
at the head of his troops while bravely
defending the legations Nothing is
known of his attitude at the state de-
partment, and the government officials
have no knowledge Of his views except
those obtained from the reports sent
in by the Shanghai correspondents at
the time of the imaginary massacre.
The report from St. Petersburg that,
owing to the hostile attitude of the
Chinese feet at Shanghai Russia pro-
poses to blockade the Chinese naval
ports" created much interest at the
navy department and in government
ClIClCS ECueIdltA lOuttys AS tuclt - Hu
Statement TO the effect that it is to be
preceded by a declaration of war, 1t
Is assumed the blockade proposed |
comes under the designation in inter-
national law of pacific blockade"
A pacific blockade is considered some
thing of an anomaly and. though its
justification is not recognized by some (
writer's on international law, 1t has
been resorted to on several occasions
during the past century and it is now
recognized as a measure Of constraint
short of war 1t has been instituted /
sometimes by the joint action of sew
eral powers. sometimes Of a single
power. in some cases against all YES
sells and in other cases against only the
vessels of the nation concerned. The
penalties generally have been the seiz-
ure and confiscation of the property
and cargo of the offending nation or
seizure and detention.
If the report from st. Petersburg
should prove to be correct the suppo-
sition Is that, as II is based on the a.
legged activity Of the Chinese fleet. the
blockade would be directed against /
Chinese ports where there are naval
stores, dry docks or coaling stations. |
There are but six Of these ports on the /
Chinese coast not within the spheres
Of foreign powers, namely: Niu /
Chwang. where there is a mud dock /
Taku and Tien Tsin. where there are /
Chinese government docks and yards; |
Foo Chow, Annoy and Whanpoa. whers l
there are granite docks owned by the
Chinese government.