The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-06
PRINCE GHUN HAS AN AUDIENCE WITT
THE KAISER.
THE MURDER OF Won KETTELER.
The Subject of the Interview-The
Prince Bears Letter from the
Great Sorrow at the Unfortunate
Occurrence and Hopes OF Renewed
FrIendshfp-The Kafser's Reply Re-
served and not Very Friendly In
Tone.

Potsdam. September 4-Prince Chun
visited the mausoleum at Friedens-
kirche today and placed wreaths on
the tombs of Emperor and Empress
Frederick.
Emperor William received Prince
Chun at noon, in the presence OF the
royal princess, Baron Won Richtofen,
the foreign secretary; the principal
ministers and generals and the court
dignitaries. The prince read a letter,
written in yellow ink. to the emperor
as follows:
The great emperor of the Chinese
empire to his majesty, the great Ger
man emperor greeting:
Ever since the empires have been
mutually represented by permanent
legations, we have stood uninterrupted
in friendly relationship with one an
other, especially since the visit of
| Prince Henry whom 1 had the privi-
| lege of receiving frequently and treat
| ing with on intimate terms. Unfortu-
| nately, in the fifth month of last year,
| the Boxers rebelliously penetrated into
Pekin and the soldiers joined them.
| THE result was the murder of your
| er, man. who, as long as he occupied
| his post at Pekin, paid careful atten-
| ton to the interests of our countries
and to whom we are bound to pay our
| special acknowledgements. We regret
| most deeply that Baron Won Ketteler
| met so terrible an end among us. The
| fact that We were not in a position to
| take due protective measures was
| painful to our sense OF responsibility.
| 1t was this feeling of responsibility
| which prompted us to erect monu-
| ment on the spot, as a sign that the
| crime should not remain uneXpiated
| Further, we have sent to Germany
with this letter, the imperial Prince
| Chun-Tsai-Fong. heading a special
mission. Prince Chun, our own broth
| er, will assure your majesty how deep
| ly feelings of penitence and shame
still animate us. Your majesty sent
| your troops from a far distance, put
down the Boxers rebellion and restor-
ed peace. for the welfare of our ma
tions. We have, therefore, commanded
| Prince Chun to express personally 70
your majesty our thanks for your eff
forts in promoting peace. We cherish
the hope that your majesty's indigna-
ton will be replaced by the old friend
ship: that the relations between our
empires will be even more extensive
and of a more intimate and beneficent
character than hitherto, is our firm as
Surance."
Prince Chun, in delivering the letter
said:
Il am in a position to assure your
majesty that the emperor, my most
gracious master, stood aloof from these
complications, which brought misfor-
tune in China, and loss and care upon
| German. Nevertheless, in accordance
with the customs of thousands of years
the emperor of China has taken the
blame on his own sacred person. 1
have. therefore. the task of expressing
to your majesty the most cordial feel
ings of the emperor, my illustrious mas
ter, toward your imperial majesty and
the whole imperial family. hope the
passing cloud will only intensity the
succeeding Sunshire and mutual friend
ship of the two great empires when
they understand the value Of each 9TH
er better
Emperor William in reply said:
| 1T is no joyous or festive occasion,
nor the fulfllment of a simple act Of
courtesy which brings your imperial
highness to me; but a deeply melan-
chOly and very serious event. Ny
minister to the court of the emperor of
| China has been slain in the capital of
| China by the murderOus weapons of
an imperial Chinese soldier acting un-
der superior command, an unheard of
crime which is branded as Infamous
in international law and usages of all
| nations:
From the mouth of your imperial
highness / have received an express
| sion of the deep regret Of the emperor
| of China. 1 readily believe your impe-
rial brother personally stood aloof
from this crime and the subsequent acts
| of violence against the inviolable le-
cations and peaceful foreigners. All
the greater the guilt resting on his ad-
visors and government. The latter
must not delude themselves with the
belief that they are able to obtain
atonement and pardon for their gull:
by this expiatory mission alone. They
will be judged by their future conduct
in accordance with the laws Of nations
II the emperor of China conducts the
government of his great empire. hence
| forth, strictly in the spirit Of these
| prescriptions. then viii his hopes be
| fulfilled and the results OF the COM
| plications of the past year will be over
| come and between Germany and Chi.
| ma, as formerly, peaceful and friendly
relations will again prevail. In the
| sincere wish that this NAV be so I hid