Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1901-09-12
CHINA'S APOLOGY.
1t Is Delivered TO the German Gov.
ernment,
PRINCE CHUN MEETS THE KAISER.
A Plain Statement of The Condition
of the Chinese Goyernment-CouI
Not Prevent Outrages.

Potsdam, By able.-Prince Chun Wis
lted the mausoleum and placed
~Teaths on the tombs of the Emperor
and Empress Frederick. Emperor Will
/ liam received Prince Chun at noon, in
tps presence of the royal Princes,
Baron Won Richthofen, the Foreign
Secretary, the principal ministers and
generals and the court dignataries.
The Prince read a letter written in
yellow ink, to 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-
belliously penetrated into Pekin and
the soldiers joined them. The result
was the murder of Your Majesty's
minister, Baron Won KettIer, a man
who as long as he occupied his post
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 a position to take
protective measures was painful to our
sense Of responsibility. 1t was this
feeling Of responsibility which prompt
ed US to erect a 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, |
beading a special mission. Prince
Chun, our own brother, will assure
Your Majesty how deeply the events |
of the past year have gTieved us and |
how deeply feeling Of penitence and |
shame still animate us. Your Majesty |
sent your troops from a far distance, |
put down the Boxers rebellion and re- |
stored peace, for the welfare of Our /!
nations. We have, therefore, COM
manded Prince Chun to express per- |
sonally to Your Majesty our thanks |
for your efforts in promoting peace. |
We cherish the hope that Your Ma
jesty'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 q position to as
sure Your Majesty that the Emperor,
my 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. | 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. l 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: ut
is no joyous or festive occasion, nor
the fulfillment Of the simple act of
courtesy which brings your imperial
highness to me; but a deeply melan
choly and very serious event. My min
lister 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
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 | have Just
received an expression Of the deep e
gret Of the Emperor of China.
readily believe your imperial brother
personally stood aloof from this crime
md the subsequent acts of violence
against the inviolable legations and
peaceful foreigners. All the greater the
guilt rests on his advisers and gov
arnment. The latter must not delude
themselves with the belief that they
are able to obtain atonement and par
don for their guilt by the exptatory
mission alone.