The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-04
FORMER CUSTOMS TAO TAI TAKES
POSITION VACATED BY
MA TUNG.
PEACE IS tNDAN GfRED
Foreign Ministers Hold Conference in
Regard to Action Of Chinese Govern
n,ent and Agree That Dismissal Must
Not Pass Unnotced-Tang Shao Wis
Mission Is Affected.

missal from office yesterday of Yuan
Shi kai, grand councillor and COM
mander in chief of the forces, and the
appointment Of Ma Tung as grand
councillor. an edict was issued today
appointing LANG Tun Yen, customs
tao tai, to the position thus made va
cant on the foreign board, The British
and American ministers agreed that
the dismissal of Yuan Shi kai should
not pass unnoticed. The American,
British German and Japanese minis
ters met again at the American lega-
tion this morning, Sir John Jordan, the
British minister. joining with MIR.
Rockhill, the American minister, in
submitting an outline of representa-
tions which should be made to the for
eign board.
Peace Endangered.
The ministers disagree on the Ques-
ton as to whether the welfare of for
eign interests is technically involved by
the regents recent action, but they
agree that peace Is endangered. The
representatives of Great Britain, the
United States and Germany view the
regents action as tantamount to an
affront to the powers on account of
Yuan Shi Kai's position abroad, he be-
ing recognized as the medium Of fair
and equitable treatment toward the ma
tions. The dissenting ministers believe
that unless other serious events occur
interference would not be justified.
Japan concurs in the opinion that the
dismissal Is certain to result in inter-
national injury. but that representa-
There is Il marked lack of unanimity
among the diplomats.
Plot Is Feared.
The courts action a fortnight ago in
increasing the palace troops and for
bidding 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
it is now believed that there was fear
also of an anti-dynastic plot.
Today the government intimated its
intention of making public the i'm
peachment, giving details of Yuan Shi
Kais alleged intrigue upon which his
DISMISSAL was based. According to re-
liable information the Impeachment Is
framed on charges against Yuan Shi
Kai in connection with the coup d'etat
of 1898. when the regency of the dow
ager empress was restored and n reac-
tionary policy inauguratcd. The flight
of kang Yu Wal, the reformer, oc-
Cured at this time.
All OF With Yuan.
The last minister who saw Yuan Shi
kai at the foreign board on December
28, states that he was at that time
suffering from no malady. but the rea-
son given for his dismissal yesterday
was that he Is afflicted with rheuma-
tism. The foreign ministers agree that
Yuan Shi Kai's restoration is impos-
sible and that the action of the gov
eminent in eliminating him cannot be
recalled.
Feel Pessimistic.
LANG Tun Yen's appointment this
afternoon only serves to increase the
feeling of pessimism at the legations.
as Yuan Shi Kai exercised an author
ity with the viceroys and governors
which was his alone and which the for
eign board, not matter what it's COM
position, cannot now retain.
Yuan Shi Kai must leave Pekin
within four or five days. Consterna-
ton 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 Slang, the viceroy of Chi Ii, and
Prince Ching, president of the board OF
foreign affairs, will be removed. There
is the keenest interest as to the fate
of Prince Tang Shao Yfs mission to
the United States as the source of his
authority has now been removed.