Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-05

PEKING, Jan. 4.-Following the dis
-nissal from office yesterday of Yuan Shat
Kai, grand councillor and commandments
chief of the forces, and the appointment OF
Ma Tung as grand councillor, an edict
was issued today appointing LANG Tun
Yen, customs taotal to the position thus
made vacant on the Foreign board.
The British and American ministers
agreed thai the dismissal of Yuan Shat Kai
should not pass unnotlced. The ,Ameri-
can, British, German and Japanese min
listers met again at the American legation
this morning, Sir John N. Jordan. the
British minister Joining with Mr.. Rockhill,
the American minister in submitting an
outline of representations, which should
be mode to the Foreign board. The min.
listers disagree on the question as to
whether the question of foreign interests
is technically involved by the regents
recent actions, but they agree that peace
is endangered. The representatives OF
Great Britain, the United States and Ger
many view the regents action as tanta-
mount to an affront to the powers on ac-
count of Yuan Shat Kai's position abroad,
he being recognized as the medium of fair
and equable treatment toward the nations.
The dissenting ministers believe that un-
less other serious events occur interference
v ould not be justified. Japan concurs is
the opinion that the dismissal is certain
to result in international injury, Dut that
representations to China would be difficult.
There is a marked lack of unanimlty
among the diplomats.
Palace Guard Increased.
The courts action a few days ago in in
creasing the palace troops and forbidding
the entrance to the palace even to the high
est officers without passes was taken as
an indication of the alarm felt in court
circles, and it is believed there was fear
of an an~ti-dynastic. Today the court is
sued an indictment giving alleged details
of Yuan Shai's intrigues, on watch his dis.
missal was based. The impeachment was
framed on charges against Yuan Shat Kai
in connection with the coup d'etat of 1898,
when the regency of the dowager empress
was restored and a reactionaTy policy in
augurated. The flight of Kang Yu Wei,
the reformer, occurred at this time.
Pessimism i'm Foreign Quarter.
The last minister who saw Yuan Shat Ka!
at the foreign board on December %. states
that he was at that time suffering from
no malady, but the reason given for his
dismissal yesterday was that he is afflicted
with rheumatism. The foreign ministers
agree that Yuan Shat Kai's restoration Is
impossible and that the action of the gov
eminent in eliminating him cannot be re-
called. LANG Tun Yen's appointment this
afternoon only serves to increase the feel
ing of pessimism at the legations, as Yuan
Shi Kai exercised an authority with the
viceroys and governors which was his alone
and which the foreign board, no matter
what it's composition, cannot now retain.
Yuan Shai Kai must leave Picking within
four Or five days. CONSERVATION among the
Chinese surpasses that felt by the foreign
residents. Many of the supporters Of the
former viceroy are panic stricken. 1t is
probable that among the first changes both
Yang Shi Kiang, the viceroy Of Chi Ii, and
Prince Ching, president Of the board Of
foreign affairs. will be removed. There is
keenest interest as to the fate of Prime
Tang Shao Yfs mis- on to the United States,
as the source Of his authority has now
been removed.