Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-11-14
PENDING TREATY
CAUSED DEATH
WORRY OVER MANcHuRIA HUR,
RED LIS END.
Willy RUSSIAN MINISTER
Sought to Withhold Compact from
Representatives of Foreign Powers
and to Hasten Signing of It-Peace
Of China Depends on New Viceroy
of Shantune.

Pekin, Nov. "a violent dispute
with NJ. Paul Lessar, Russian minis
ter to China, over the Manchuriap
treaty appears to have been the imme-
date cause of the death of Ii Hung
Chang. Diplomatic events preceding
the tragic climax have enabled Japaa
for the moment to Illustrate the de
signs of Russia. A fortnight ago the
Japanese legation secured a reliable
outline Of the terms of the treaty and
thereupon demanded that the Chinese
plenipotentiaries officially lay before
them the text, basing their demand
upon the allegation that Japanese in
terests were involved in any change
Of status of Manchuria.
The Chinese plenipotentiaries re-
fused to comply with the demand.
Thereupon the Japanese government
from Toxic communicated with the
southern viceroys and induced them to
use their influence with the empress
dowager against the treaty. In the
meantime the empress dowager in
structed Ii Hung Chang to communi-
cate the treaty, after certain modifcar
tons, to the ministers of the powers,
and if they did not object to sign the
same. Ii Hung Chang explained to
NJ. Lessar the instruction. The Rus
sian minister strongly objected to re-
vealing the text of the treaty to the
ministers of other powers and a.
stormy interview ensued. Ii Hung
Chang went home in a violent passion
and had hemOrrhage, which the doc
tors attribute to overexertion of the
weakened system.
While these things were happening
in Pekin, the southern viceroys sent to
the empress dowager a memorial
against the treaty On receiving it she
telegraphed to Ii Hung Chang cOun-
termanding the order to sign. This
instruction came after Ii Hung Chang
had become unconscious When M.
Lessar endeavored to have Ii Hung
Chang's seal affixed to the treaty Chow
Flu, the provincial treasurer, had ar
rived from Paotingfu, and taken
charge of the seals as temporary sue
cessor of Earl Ii.
Stars and Stripes at Hafstaff.
Pekin, Nov. 9.-The flag of the
United States legation is the only one
half-masted in Pekin. The mourners
and family of Ii Hung Chang will
burn paper offerings today in accord
ance with custom for the use of his
spirit in the other world The street
is hung with mourning emblems. All
attendants at the yamen are richly
attired and many gaudily dressed.
Yesterday musicians beat drums about
the house.
Yuan Shi Kai's successor in the
gOvernOrship of the province of Shan
tung is an unknown man, who has
been holding an unimportant though
lucrative position as grain commits
sioner in an inland town of the prov
deepest solicitude, as the peace of
China largely depends upon his
course. Emperor Kwang Su, the re-
port says, is asserting himself and
leading the imperial cortege on horse
back. Native papers declare he pro
poses to inaugurate revival of the
military spirit.
A private letter from a European
now in Taiyuenfu says two British Of
ficers with a party of Indian soldiers
encountered the imperial procession.
were suspected of unfriendly motives
and kept as prisoners by the emperor's
bodyguard for a few days. Apparent
ly this was an exploring party, com
manded by Major Manifold and Cap
tain Hunter, which had been operating
in that region some time.