The age-herald., 1901-02-22
CHINA AGREES TO
 DEATH SENTENCES An Edict Issued Ordering Lead CTS to Commit Suicide ORDERS VERY UNCERTAIN Private Edicts May Have Been Sent To the Guilty Persons Not To Kill Themseives-Warike PrePar-
 ations Continue.
ORDERS VERY UNCERTAIN

Pekin, February H.-Princes Ching and Li Hung Chang have received telegraphic instructions from the court to notify the ministers of the powers that an edict has been issued regarding the punishment of Chinese officials conformatory of the de- mands made by ministers as follows:
 Gen. Tung Fun Sian to be degraded and deprived of his rank.
 Prince Tuan and Duke Ian, to be dis graced and exiled.
 Prince Chuang. Ting Men and Chao Shu Chiao, to commit suicide.
 Hsu Chen Yu, Yu Hsien and Xxi Hain, to be beheaded.
 This Is not exactly what the ministers demanded, but it is considered advisable to agree to it, as the demands for lives have been agreed to except in the case of Gen. Tung Fun Sian. whom the court is powerless to molest. There Is a private understanding that his life will be claim ed when 1t is possible.
 The European and China secretaries of legations and others who have lived in China for years consider that China has gained a victory. as the only man the court has to behead Is Yu Hsen. The other two are in the hands of the Japan csc. and could be beheaded when their ex- ecution is wanted Suicide is no disgrace whatever In the eyes of the Chinese.
 No one believes Gen. Tung Fun Sian will ever suffer punishment.
 EdIcts arc Very Uncertain.
 People here say Chinese imperial edicts are very unstable documents, especially when private edicts to the executive of- f1cials accompany the public edicts. A re- cent decree ordered all the indicated of 1cials to commit suicide, yet 1t Is evident secret edict was sent instructing the persons implicated not to obey. What proof 1t is asked is there now that the terms of the decree will be carried out.
 Prince Ching Is greatly alarmed at the preparatiin for the military expedition in- to the interior. He asks why they are not countermanded. now that China has agreed to the demands of the powers, in stead of which the preparations continue. MT. J. Fowler, the United States con- sul at Che Foo, has sent Minister Con- ger a proclamation issued by Yuen Sh Kad, Governor of the province of Shan Tung, giving protection to the mission aries and offering reward of 200 taels for the capture of any of the ringleaders of the recent disturbances and offering ( reward of 100 taels for the capture ol others than those actually committing | outrages. The civil and military authori | ties will be held strictly accountable fol | the good order of their districts. Whei | outrages are committed they will be dis | graced and reported to the throne. Wher no outrages occur for three years thu | civil and military authorities will be TO | warded by merit tablet and button. The merchants at Tien Tsin have sen | memorial to General Chaffee asking him to resume the occupation of th' Formosan concession, long ago given III and not now occupied. though both tho British and German commanders talk o annexing it. The merchants point ou that they will be badly handicapped without the concession, as they woult have to pay wharfage to foreign powe1 l as we'll as to the Chinese officials. Int general desires that the matter be re- | ferred to Minister Conger for decision.