Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-12
D,SCLAiM RESPONSIBILITY.
Imperial Government Sends Out Long Decree
on the Boxers Trouble.

Washington, June 1.-Tu Ting Fang
the Chinese minister to this country
came to the state department in per-
son, this morning. and delivered to Sec
rotary Hay copy of n cablegram re-
ceived by him purporting to be from
the Chinese imperial government. be-
lieved to have originated at the chi
nese war department. disclaiming re-
sponsibility on the part of the imperial
government for Boxers troubles and as
sorting that the engagement at Tlen
Tsin was the direct result of the bonn
bardment of the Taku forts by the for
eignerS.
The imperial decree dated third day
Of sixth moon, (June 2g received by
telegraph. today. by Minister WI from
the Taotai of Shanghai was transmit
ted on July l. from the treasurer of the
Chih-Ii province, who received it by
special courier on June 80, from the
board of war, who in turn received ii
from the privy council in Pekin. The
decree is as follows:
The circumstances which led to the
commencement of fighting between
Chinese and foreigners were of such u
complex. confusing and unfortunate
character as to be entirely unexpected
Our diplomatic representatives abroad
owing to their distance from the scene
of action. have had no means of know
ing the true state of things and ac-
cordingly cannot lay the views of the
government before the ministers for
foreign affairs of the respective pow
ers to which they are accredited. Now
we take this opportunity of going fully
into the matter for the information of
our Representatives aforesaid.
In the first place there arose in the
provinces of Chih-Li and Shan-Tung
a kind of rebellious subjects who had
and fencing in their respective vii
lagos. and at the same time clothing
their doings with spiritualistic and
strange rites. The local authorities
failed to take due notice of them at
the time. Accordingly, the infection
spread with astonishing rapidity.
Within the space of a month it seemed
to make its appearance everywhere,
and finally even reached the capital it
self Every one locked upon the move
ment as supernatural and strange and
many joined it. Then there We're law
less and treacherous persons who
sounded the cry of down with Chris
tianity.'
About the middle of the fifth month
these persons begun to create disturb
anceS without warning. Churches
We're burned and converts killed. The
whole city was in a ferment. A situa =
ton was created which could not be
brought under control At first. the
foreign powers requested that foreign
troops be allowed to enter the capitol
for the protection of the legations
The imperial government, having in
view the comparative urgency of the
occasion. granted the request as an eX
traordinary mark of courtesy beyond
the requirements of International in
tercourse. Over 800 foreign troops were
sent to Pekin. This shows clearly
how much care China exercised in the
maintenance of friendly relations with
other countries.
The legations at the capitol never
had much to do with the people But
from the time foreign troops entered
the city. the guards did not devote
themselves exclusively to the protec-
ton of their respective legations. They
sometimes fired their guns on top OF
the city walls, and sometimes patrolled
the streets everywhere There were
repeated reports of persons being hi,
by stray BULLETS. Moreover they stroll.
ed about the city without restraint and