The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-01-03
WILL SIGN THE NOTE A PANIC in LONDON
Chinese Plenipotentiaries Receive
Unexpected Instructions.

Picking, Dec. s1.-The Chinese pleni-
potentiaries have been unexpectedly
ordered to sign the preliminary joint
note, and have notified the foreign en-
voys to that effect, The Chinese them.
selves were greatly astonished at re-
ceiving the imperial instructions.
Neither Iii Hung Chang nor Prince
Ching have expected success in per.
suading the court under ten days.
The emperor's Instructions are to
agree fully to the note, but TO endeavor
to get the best terms possible, particu-
larry in the matter Of limiting the mum
er of the legation guards and also as
to the places where these are to be To-
Gated. The plenipotentiaries are in
structed to endeavor to limit the num-
Der of army posts along the line of rail.
way to as few as possible, and finally to
request the powers not to destroy the
forts, but merely to disarm them.
Ii Hung Changes health is bad, and
1t is doubtful whether he will be able
to do more than affix his signature to
an instrument delegating his powers
to Prince Ching until another pleni-
potentiary has been appointed. He
was dressed Sunday morning and car.
ried in a chair to the residence OF
Prince Ching, with whom he held a
long consultation. Prince Ching then
called upon the doyen of the diplomatic
corps, the Spanish minister, Senior de
Cologan, and requested him to notify
the other ENJOYS that instructions had
been received from the emperor to
sign the note.
Ask Suspension of HOStilities.
Paris, Dec. 31.-The Havas agency
has received the following dispatch
from Peking: prince Ching and Ii
Hung Chang have communicated to the
foreign ENJOYS an imperial edict in
which the emperor declares that China
accepts the joint note and authorizes
Prince Ching and Ii Hung Chang to
negotiate and TO ask for a suspen'
sion of hostilities."
Prince Ching and Ii Hung Chang, &C
cording to another dispatch to the
Havas agency, say that Emperor
Kwang Su has expressed a desire thai
the court should return to Picking al
the end of February.
News Gives Satisfaction.
Washington, Dec. 31.-The report
that the Chinese plenipotentiaries had
been directed to sign the joint note is
a source of satisfaction to officials
here as indicating a disposition on
the part of the Chinese government to
heed the desire of the powers that
negotiations shall be entered on at
once and the present unsatisfactory
condition of affairs terminated. The
emperor, it was expected, would in
struct his agents to obtain the best
terms possible.
One of the principal objections said
to have been made by the Chinese to
the location of any great number Of
legations guards in Picking is that
these guards would be a menac t.
the existing Chinese government. Al
has been already stated in these dis.
patches, the United States govern
ment does not desire the absolute
/ uCIlCllllOl VI Nn6 Iuhu lOIIo, DuI I'LL
ply their dismantlement, so that ready
access to the Chinese capital Of a for,
eign force would not be prevented
The demand of the powers in the
joint note, however, was for the de-
struction of the forts.
Mr.. WI, the Chinese minister, 1.
somewhat puzzled as to just what con
struction to place on the Picking dis
patch. All along he has regarded the
demands conveyed in the joint note al
harsh and severe, and the statement
that it has been signed causes him sur
prise. He is inclined to believe that in
all probability what the emperor ha!
directed is that the Chinese plenipo
tentiaries proceed to discuss in a friend
ly manner with the ENJOYS the terms o
the agreement, with a view, as stated
in the Picking dispatch, to obtain the
best terms possible along certain speci
fed lines and also in others not con
tanned in the cablegram.
VIII Return to Picking.
Shanghai, Dec. 31.-There are per,
sistent reports in circulation here that
the imperial court is preparing to re
turn to Peking. Chinese advicss from
the capital say that 90 carts with mule.
and horses have been dispatched tc
Tai Yuen Flu to meet and bring bacl
the imperial personages and their en-
tourage. 1t is also asserted that EN-
peror Kwang Su has summoned HI
Ping Chin, former governor of the prov
ince of shan-Si. to Sian Flu to accom-