The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-09-12
CHENA'S APOLOGY.
II Is Delivered 10 The German GoY'
ernMent.
PRINCE CEuN MEETS THE KAISER.
A Plain Statement CT The Condition
of the Chinese Goyernment-CoL!d
Not Prevent Cutrages.

PGtS12n, By aDle.-Frlnce CAun VS.
tied the mausoieum and placed
wreatnS on the tombs Of the Emperor
and Empress Frederick. Emperor Viii
liam received Prince Chun at noon. in
the presence OF the royal Princes.
Baron Won Richthofen. the Foreign
Secretary. the principal ministers and
generals and the court dignataries.
The Prince read letter written IN
yellow ink, 10 the Emperor. The fol-
lowing is the text of the letter:
The Great Emperor of the Chinese
Empire to His MAJESTY, thje Great Ger
man Emperor. greeting: Ever since
the empires have been mutually rep
resented by permanent legations, we
have stood uninterrupted in friendly
relationship with one another, especl-
ally since the visit of Prince Henry,
whom | had the privilege of receiving
frequently and treating with on init
mate terms. Unfortunately in the fifth
month of last year the Boxers re-
bellicrs!y penetrated into Pekin and
the soldiers joined them. The result
was the murder of Your Majesty S
minister, Baron Won Kettler, man
who as long as he occupied his post
at Pekin paid careful attention TO the
interests of our countries and to whom
we are bound to pay our special ac-
knowledgements. We regret most
deeply that Baron Won Kettler met so
terrible an end among us. The fact
that we were not in position to take
noinfu f0
sense of responsibility. 1t was TINS
feeling of responsibility which prompt
ed US 10 erect monument 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 brother, will assure
Your Majesty how deeply the events
of the past year have grieved us and
how deeply feeling of penitence and
shame still animate us. Your Majesty
sent your troops from a far distance,
nut down the Boxers rebellion and re-
stored peace, for the welfare OF our
nations. We have, therefore, COM
manded Prince Chun to express per-
:sonalIy to Your Majesty our thanks
for your efforts in promoting peace.
We cherish the hope that Your Ma
iesty's indignation will be replaced by
the old friendship. That the relations
between our empires will be even more
extensive and of more intimate and
benefcient character than hitherto is
our firm assurance"
Prince Chun, in delivering the let
ter. said: Il am in position to as
sure Your Majesty that the Emperor,
nv most gracious master, stood aloof
from these complications, which
brought misfortune upon China and
loss and care upon Germany. Never
theless. in accordance with the Gus
toms of thousands Of years, the En-
peror of China has taken the blame on
his own sacred person. l have, there
fore. the task of expressing to Your
Majesty the most cordial feelings OF
the Emperor, my most illustrious
master. toward your Imperial Majesty
and the whole imperial family | hope
the passing cloud will only intensity
the succeeding sunshine and mutual
friendship Of the two great empires
when they understand the value OF
each other better"
Emperor William in reply said: 1T
Is no joyous or festive occasion, nor
the fulfllment Of the simple act OF
courtesy which brings your imperial
highness to me; but deeply melan-
choly and very serious event. My min
lister 20 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
under superior command, an unheard-
of crime. which is branded as infa-
nous by international law and the
usage of all nations. From the mouth
of your imperial highness l have just
received an expression OF the deep e.
gret of the Emperor OF China. l
readily believe your imperial brother
personally stood aloof from this crime
and the subsequent acts OF violence
against the inviolable legations ana
ppsceful foreigners. All the greater the
guil. rests on his advisers and gov
ernment, The latter must not delude
themselves with the belief that they
arc able to obtain atonement aad par
don for their guilt by the eXpIatory
mission alone.