The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-04
American and British Minis
tiers Protest Over Oismis.
sal of Yuan Shi kai.
THINK PEACE ENDANGERED
FOREIGN DIPLOMATS HOLD MEET.
ING BECAUSE DEPosED OFF.
clAl RECOGNIZED AS MEDIUM
OF FAIR TREATMENT.

rchiu. JAu ~ oitOWluS Tue 0l0-
missal from office Saturday of Yuan
Shi Kai. grand chancellor and COM
mander in chief of the forces. ana the
appointment of Ma Tung as grand
chancellor. an edict was issued today
appointing Lians Tun Yen. customs
taotai. to the position thus made va
cant on the foreign board.
The British and American ministers
have reached an agreement that the
dismissal of Yuan Shi Kai should not
pass unnoticed.
The American. British. German and
Japanese ministers met at the Ameri-
can legation yesterday morning. Sir
John n. Jordan, British minister. join
ing with Mr.. Rockhill. American min
lister. in submitting an outline of rep
reservations which should be made to
the foreign board.
The ministers disagree on the Ques-
ton as to whether the welfare OF
foreign interests is technically involv-
led by the regents action, but they
agree that peace is endangered.
The representatives Of Great Britain.
the United States and Germany view
the regents action as tantamount tn
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
tons.
The dissenting ministers are Of the
opinion that unless other serious ev-
ents occur. interferences would not be
justified.
Japan concurs in Opinion.
Japan concurs in the opinion that
the dismissal is certain to result In in
| ternational injury, but that represen-
tations to China would be difficult.
There is a marked lack of unanimity
among the diplomats in the present
situation.
The courts action fortnight ago In
increasing the palace troops and for
bidding the entrance to the palace. ev-
en- of the highest officials. without
passes. was taken as an indication at
that time of the alarm felt in court
circles. and 1t Is believed that there
was fear also of an anti-dynastic plot.
| The government today intimated its
intention Of making public the i'm
parchment, giving details of Yuan Shi
Kai's alleged intrigue upon which his
dismissal was based.
| According to reliable Information.
the impeachment is framed on charg.
es against Yuan Shi Kai in connection
with the coup dietat Of 1898. when the
regency of the Dowager Empress was
restored and a reactionary policy inau-
gurated. The fight of Kang YIN Wei.
the reformer occurred at this time.
Suffering From No Malady.
The last minister. who saw Yuan
Shi Kai at the foreign board Dec. %,
ing from no malady. but the reason
given for his dismissal was that he ID
| afflicted with rheumatism. The for.
eign ministers agree that Yuan Shi
Kai's restoration Is impossible and
that the action of the government in
eliminating him from official position
/ can not be recalled. LANG Tun Yen's
| appointment this afternoon only
serves to increase the feeling Of pessi.
mism 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 its composition. can moi
retain.
i Yuan Shi Kai must leave Pekin
within four or five days. but nothing
IL known OF his plans. C0nsternatiOu
/ among the Chinese surDasses that fell
II by the foreign residents. 1t is prob
able that among the first changes
both Yang Shi Slang. the viceroy oi
Chi Ii, and Prince Ching, president
Of the board of foreign affairs. vii
be removed. There is keenest Interest
! ~ to the fate Of Prince Tang Shae
1 Yi's mission to the United States. n
the source of his authority has nov
been removed.