Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-07-13

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 12.-"On
, to Pekin,' Is the policy adopted by our
government. 1t is said that regardless
of the issues raised as to the au-
thenticity of the last Chinese note, or
the accuracy of its statement of fact,
or the question as to the responsibility
for the present situation, our govern
ment at least is determined not to re-
lax its efforts to reach Pekin, to get in
touch with Mr.. Conger, if he is alive,
to take the necessary steps for the pro-
lection of American interests, and in
fact to do all those things set out in
Secretary Hays note to the powers, in
Guiding a reckoning with the person
or persons responsible for the outrage
GUS events of the past six weeks.
Twenty-four hours consideration of
the Chinese note leaves the officials
here convinced that it marks the be-
ginning of a general effort on the part
of the Chinese officials to relieve them
selves from responsibility for the treat
ment of the foreign ministers and the
fighting at Tien Tsin. That in itself
is regarded as hopeful sign of the
approaching collapse of the Boxer"
movement and the termination of the
state of instruction that exists in
Pekin and Shan Tung. Victors do not
apologize; hence the exculpatory state
ment yesterday is believed to be preg-
nant with meaning.
The good impression made by the
edict of the Chinese government given
out by Minister WI yesterday threat
ems to offset to some extent to-day by
the reports from London stating that
Prince Tuan was the real author OF
this edict and that some of its most
forcible anti-foreign language was
omitted from the version given out
here. But at the Chinese legation these
intimations from London are dismissed
as groundless. The dispatch. was re-
ceived here in Chinese, that is, in the
numerals by which the Chinese govern
ment transmits its official code mes
sages This in itself. it is said, indi-
Gates that it came with the sanction of
those in imperial authority as the Of
ficial code is not known outside of this
limited circle. The TRANSACTIONS will be
required first from the numerals to
the Chinese and second from the Chi
| nese to the English. These transla-
lions were made by the members of
the legation staff here, so that the ulti-
mate text as made public contained the
phraseology adopted by the officials in
this city. In making their translation
they say they adhered literally to the
Geographic edict, so that the published
text contains everything embraced in
the original.
When the emperor, Kwang Hsu, is
sues an edict he does not sign his name.
but his acts are authenticated with the
seal, which in this case could not be
cabled, so that the document was au-
thenticated as coming from the PRIV
council, the highest body of dignitaries
in China and the one most closely as
ISOLATED with the imperial household.
Following an invariable custom in
time or disorder, the war office at Pc
kin was entrusted with furnishing the
runners to carry the message to the
imperial treasurer of Chilli. who in turn
got it to Shanghai. From that point
it was sent direct to the various min
listers the world over, coming to Wash
ington direct instead of by the usual
route of London. Under the forego-
ing circumstances, the Chinese officials
regard it as established beyond the
slightest question that the edict is a
bona-fide expression from theimperial
government of China, and, moreover.
that it is complete as given out here
without the anti-foreign addenda
sought to be put in it in other quarters.
tn FEED TUE ApNv