Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-02
NEW RECTOR SELECTED YUAN SH0RN0FPOWER
Bishop Carroll to Be Head of Grand Councillor and Head of
Catholic University Chinese Army Deposed.
TWILL ACCEPT THE PR0FFER ORDERED TO HIS HOME
Proposition Thus Cemeny Manifested
Months Ago. Says Imperial Edict
BISHOP OCONNELL TO DEPART DIPLOMATS CONFER
Action Regarded
Heirarchy-Wel Apprehensve of Revolutionary
in Outbreaks-Powers
ORDERED TO HIS HOME
Thus Our Clemency Is Manifested"
Says Imperial Edict.
FOREIGN DIPLOMATS CONFER
Action Regarded as Reactionary.
Apprehensive of Revolutionary
Outbreaks-Powers May Act.

PEKING, January Am edict issued
today dismisses from office Yuan Shi-Kai.
grand councillor and commander-in-chief
OF the forces. The reason given for this
action is that he has rheumatism in the
leg
The edict orders Yuan Shi-kai to va
cate all his offices and to return to his
home adding:
Thus our clemency toward him is
manifested"
A second edict appoints NacTung. con-
troller of customs and ex-governor Of Pc
king. grand councillor, presumably in
Yuan Shi-kais place.
The members of the diplomatic corps
at Peking are almost thunderstruck st
the sudden dismissal of Yuan Shi-Kai.
The step Is believed to be the outcome
OF Manchu plot. There are indications
that the Japanese representatives alone
had any inkling OF what was on foot.
Foreign Diplomats Confer.
Two hours after the foreign ministers
became cosnizant Of the edct Of dis
missal the American. German and Brit
ish ministers were in conference at the
British legation.
I O'Clock this evening. 1t consequently
will be impossible to learn tonight what
course the leading powers will take in
this surprising development.
The home governments will act only
after an interchange of ideas. There is
| reason to believe tonight that Prince
| Ching. president of the board of foreign
affairs. will be waited upon tomorrow by
a strong diplomatic combination, such as
! the British. German and American repre-
| SentativeS here.
| There is nothing to indicate that the
| dismissal of Yuan Shi-kai means danger
to foreigners. The good fame of China's >
| management of the crisis following the
demise of the emperor and the dowager
| empress and the appointment of a sue
cessor has been swept away by this vim
| dictive act, which will astonish and
| arouse the outside world, cripple China y
credit and postpone the withdrawal OF
foreign troops probably for five years.
| Apprehensions Are Entertained.
Yuan Shi-Kais feelings are as yet un-
known. The legations are anxiousiy
awaiting a clue to the thrones future
course of action
| In accordance with the regulations of
the new regency the decree of dismissal
| was marked and sealed by the prince
regent and bore the signatures of the
grand councillors, excepting that of Prince
| Ching. This is evidence that Prince
Ching dissented
| There are grave apprehenSions here OF
revolutionary outbreaks in such centers
as Canton. Conservative diplomats al
| ready are suggesting the return of foreign
| troops to the lines of communication be-
| tween Picking and Tientsin.
1t is no eXaggeration to say that the
! foreigners of Peking are overcome with
! astonishment at this evidence of China 5
capacity to take such reactionary step.
Protector of Foreigners"
Though the news Of the downfall of
Yuan Shi-Kai was not entirely unexpected
in official circles here 1t was received with
regret.
The State Department has keen recol-
lection of the great services rendered by
Yuan Shi-kai to every Christian nation
i'll securing communication by secret
means with the legationers besieged in
the compound at Peking during the fa-
nous Boxer uprising.
At that time Yuan Shi-Kai was Taotai
! of Shanghai He did not hesitate 10
use all his great power to secure news
| from the compound. which gave the first
| assurance to the outside word that the
| diplomats. their families and attaches
| were holding their own within the lega-
| ton precincts.
1t was this information which Yuan
| Shi-kai conveyed through the American
! consul general at Shanghai to Mr.. Hay
| that encouraged the European govern
ments to join with America In the re-
markable allied march TO Peking. result
| ing in the liberation of the legationers.
Protected by Isl An.
For some time, there Is reason to sus-
| pecT Yuan Shi-Kai was not closely i'll
| touch with the new administration in
/ China. There had been charges affecting
| his official integrity.
These had come TO naught, SO long as
| the famous Dowager Empress Tsi An
! lived. She had unlimited confidence in
| Yuan Sh-Kai. He was clothed with al
! most the same degree of autocratic power
! over China's external relations as was the
| late Ii Hung Chang.
1t was Yuan who organized the modern
| Chinese army; dropped out the spearmen
| and the bOwmen and the bearers of stink
| pots and the makers OF loud noises and
| substituted well drilled. khaki-clad SOL
ders educated by European officers
During the Boxer uprising. with his
we'll trained troops Yuan was almost the
| only viceroy in China able to extend pro-
| lection 10 foreign life and property. In his
! later position. with extended powers, he
| had planned to make the Chinese national
army force to be reckoned with by any
nation.
GEORGIA Doctor Dies