The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-23
clear of Hostile Chiuese

<N't"FH4iS 1" me latest official reports tn.
country around Ti=a-TsIn IS clear Of hos
tile Chinese
The flower Of the Chinese army. In ,ha.
section has been defeated al Ti-.-Tsin AID
ihe army experts calculate that its bower
II 80 broken that that particular army
! never can BE- recognized In season tn offer
formidable resistance. - th.y argue tbs,
! the time Is ripe for a s-ruk, of bold GEN
eralship: such. for instance. as rrel,ch's
rid" 20 Kimberley
Further proof o. an official character Of
the mistake made by foreign commanders
IN the attack upon the Taku forts l. COR
tainei in a communication ius, received
by the State Department from United
states Consul Fowler az Chef He has
transmitted an imperial edict which was
. supplied to him 10y telegraph 10y rh,
chinese Governor Of Shan-Tune. Yuan Shih
, l<ai. at Ts!-Nan. the capital Of the Province.
II was issued on July Il. anu relates 10 the.
p:esen: hos;lities between china and th,
foreign Powers. The dispatch containing
the edlct came to the State Department In
such confused phraseoiugy that f. Is i'm
possible IN DO more than approximately
state its sense.
The eiict appears 70 state in beginning
that owing TO the trouble t-xiStin. between
the Christians and the populace and 10
the subsequent seizure OF the Taku forts
which aroused the military TO arms. TIE
imperial court was laying great weight
upon its International relations. The
Marchu Generals therefore. NIceFoys and
Governors. are ordered to ascertain whether
the merchants and missionaries OF the var:-
oEs nations residing in the open ports are
being protected. and the assertion is mad.
that projects and Magistrates have been
sent repeated imperative edicts TO protect
the legations.
orders also have been sent 10 the proyin-
ciaI authorities 10 protect The missionaries.
While hostilities have not yet ceased. the
Chinese officials are directed to give pro-
lection 20 the merchants and others of the
various nations in accordance with treaties
and must not fail TO obey. The edict re-
fers 10 the killing last month OF japanese
Chancellor Sugiyana which II character
ICES as startling. II says that a shcr;
time thereafter the German Minister was
murdered while residing In the capital con-
Quoting international affairs
tn. edict expresses the deepest sympathy
on account Of his death and asserts that
stringent instructions would be issued To
seize the murderer who must he caught and
severely punished after the termination of
the present hostilitIes together with those
who have murdered foreigners and mission
aries or taken their property without cause.
Some Exempted.
The language Of the edict given by
Mr. Fowler on this subject is very much in
VOWED, but # appears to exempt from pun
ishment those who have killed foreigners
connected with the war.
The Governor Of Pekin and the Viceroy Of
Chilli are charged TO issue Instructions 20
Investigate and then 10 deal intelligently
with each case of wrong-dolrg The edct
states that recently evil-doers created riots,
deliberately rebelied and murdered good
subjects: certainly. It says. a deplorable
state Of affairs. All Niceroys. Governors
and high military authorities are ordered to
obtain accurate details presumably Of the
outrages committed by Chinese and to make
such seizures ard take such action as the
cases warrant in order 20 stop the disturb
ances.
Besides the reference 10 the seizure Of the
Taku forts as Of tiie causes OF the
uprising, tire significant feature of the edict
IS the underlying expression ot the desire
Of the Imperial Government of China. not
Only 10 project the foreigners bat TO make
PREPARATION for the injuries they have sCs-
tained. That would seem 70 be the mean
ing Of the Instructions to the Chinese Vice.
rCys and magistrates to take steps to as
certain the extent Of these injuries. Other
wise the edict Is mainly argumentative and
appears 10 he an effort to eXtenuate he
course of the Imperial Government. As such
II may he properly laid aside for the pres
ent. TO be taken Up FOR consideration in the
final reckoning and such will he the course
of the State Department.
The administration 10 determined to keep
aioof from any movement that would IN
necessarily eEtangle the Government OF she
United States in Chinese affairs, looking
only to the preservation of such privileges
as il has right TO retain fo- Americans.