The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-01-08
PEACE IN DANGER
FROM CHINA'S ACT
DISMISSAL OF YUAN sHI kAI IS
CONSIDERED AFFRoNT TO
POWERS.
FOREIGN MINISTERS TO CONFER
Japan Eiesitates About Making Remon-
STRANGE And other Ministers
Are Hesitating.

PEKIN, Jan. 3.-Following the dis
missal from Office yesterday Of YuaI
shi Kai, Grand Councillor and Com
mander-in-Chie Of the forces, and the
appointment of Ma Tung as Grand
Councillor, an edict was issued today
appointing Liang-Tun-Yen. Customs
Taotai, to the position thus made va
cant on the Foreign Board.
The British and American Minis
tiers have reached an agreement that
the dismissal of Yuan Shi Kai should
not pass unnoticed. The American,
British, German and Japanese Minis
tiers met again at the American Lega-
ton this morning, Sir John N. Jordan,
the British Minister, joining with Mr..
Rockhill, the American Minister, in
submitting an outline of representa-
tions which should be made to the
Foreign Board.
The ministers disagree on the
question as to whether the welfare of
foreign interests is technically in
volved by the Regents action, but
they agree that peace is endangered.
The representatives of Graf Britain,
the United States and Germany view
the Regents action as tantamount to
an affront to the powers on account of
Yuan Shi Kais position abroad, he
being recognized as a medium of fair
and equable treatment toward the ma
lions.
The dissenting ministers are of the
opinion that unless other serious
events occur, interference would not I
be justified Japan concurs in the
opinion that the dismissal is certain |
to result in international injury, but |
that representations to China would
be difficult. There is a marked lack
OF unanimity among the diplomats in
the present situation.
The courts action a fortnight ago1
in increasing the palace troops and
forbidding the entrance to the palace,
even of the highest officials, without
passes, was taken as an indication at
that time of the alarm felt in court
circles, and tits now believed that
there was fear also of an anti-dynastic
plot Today the Government init
mated its intention of making public
the impeachment, giving details Of
Yuan Shi Kai's alleged intrigue upon /
which his dismissal was based. Ac-
cording TO reliable information the Inn {
parchment is framed on charges |
agaginst Yuan Shi Kai in connection {
with the coup d'etat of 1898 when the i
of the Dowager Empress was /
restored and a reactionary policy .
The flight Of Kang- T
Yu,Wei, the reformer, occurred at this
time i
The last minister who saw Yuan 0
Shi Kai at the Foreign Board on. Dec.
Is states that he was at that time Il
from no malady, but the $
'eason given for his dismissal yester- u
lay was that he is afflicted with rheu- o
natism The foreign ministers agree Il
hat Yuan Shi Kai's restoration is i'm u
possible, and that the action of the u
government in eliminating him from 9
ficial position can not be recalled. y
lang Tun Yen's appointment this af- u
only serves to increase the d
ceiling of pessimism at the legations, o.
S Yuan Shi Kai exercised an authori- So
y with the viceroys and Governors e
,hich was his alone, and which the III
Oreign Board, no matter what it's 10
can not retain. Yuan pi
hi Kai must leave Pekin within four IN
r five days, but nothing is known of
Is plans. ~
The CONSERVATION among the Chi W
ese surpasses that felt by the foreign w
,sidents. 1t is probable that among cf
lie first changes both Yang Shi Slang, M
lie Viceroy of Chilli, and Prince IN
hing President of the Board of For IN
gn Affairs. will be removed. There si
keenest interests as to the fate OF 'e
rince Tang Shao Yrs mission to the Ut
nited States, as the source of his
Ithority has now been removed. "