Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-09
THE IMPERIAL EDICT.
Chinese Minister Communicates
Another Message from his Gov
ernment to the State Department..

eminent to the state Department.
! WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-After a
brief respite at the seashore, the Chi
| nese minister was again busy to-day at
/ the Chinese legation. He made an early
visit to the state department, deliver
| ing the edict of August I'd, which had
been delayed en- route, directing Jung
| Lu to select high officials TO escort the
foreign ministers from Pekin to Tien
| TSin. This was turned over to Acting
Secretary Adee, and the text of the
| edict made public. The edict also di-
! rected that free communication be al
lowed between the ministers and the
governments On messages in open text.
A later communication, dated August
5, extended this free communication
without regard to the messages being
in open text.
An imperial edict of the eighth day
of the seventh moon august 2, 1900
transmitted by Viceroy Lii Hung
Chang, Viceroy Liu Kun vi and Direc-
tor General Cheng, under date of Au-
gust 4, 1900, to Minister Yang, at st.
Petersburg, and re-transmitted by the
! latter, under date of August 2, and re-
ceived by Minister WI on the evening
of the last named date. 1t is as fol-
lows:
Lii Hung Chang and Liu Kun vi, in
response to their joint memorial pro-
posing the sending of the. foreign min
listers to Tien Tsin, received on the
eighth instant august 2nd) the follow
ing imperial edict
Throughout the disturbances recent
ly caused by our subjects on account
OF Christian missions, which have re-
suited in a conflict of forces, it has
been found necessary TO afford protec-
ton to all the foreign ministers in
Pekin. On repeated occasions the
Tsung Ii Yamen sent notes inquiring
after their welfare. And as Pekin has
not yet been restored to order and
precautionary measures may not Sc
cure absolute safety. the foreign min
listers are being consulted as to the
proposed plan for detailing troops to
escort them safely to Tien Tsin for
temporary shelter, so that they may
be free from apprehensive anxiety or
fear.
Whereby command Jung Lu to ap-
point as a preliminary step trust
worthy, high, civil and military Of
ficials, who, together with reliable and
efficient troops, shall, at such time as
| the foreign ministers may agree upon
for leaving Pekin, escort and protect
them throughout their journey Should
lawless characters manifest evil de-
signs upon the ministers or attempt to
rob them or in any way create trouble,
they (the high offlcials) shall at once
repreSs them without fail
IF the foreign ministers, before
leaving Pekin, should desire to COM
municate with their respective govern
ments, and if their Geographic mes
sages should be in plain language, the
Tsung Ii Yamen shall at once attend
| to them without the least delay, thus
manifesting the utmost friendliness of
the imperial government Respect
this"
Secretary Root had a lengthy con-
ference with Acting Secretary Adee in
the State Department after the visit
or the Chinese minister. At its con-
clusion Mr.. Root said that the situation
was unchanged so far as the War De-
partment was concerned. He declined
to enter into the diplomatic aspect
OF the situation and Secretary Adee de-
MED himself to all newspapermen. 1t
is known, however, that the govern
ment will lose no time in putting the
good faith of the Chinese government
to the test.
The critical situation developed here
to-day by the receipt of the Conger
message gave rise to a number of ru-
mors of renewe& military activity. 1t
can be stated on the authority of the
Secretary of War that no actual steps
have been taken but 1t is understood
that acting on a precautionary mes
sage addressed to him some time ago.
Gen. Macarthur has so arranged mat
tiers in Luzon as TO have a considerable
body of troops on which he can draw
in an emergency to reinforce the in
ternational column in China.