The Washington herald., 1910-07-17
By Ex-ATTAcHE.

Prince Chun. Lieutenant and Regent OF
China during the minority of his four
year-oId son, the Emperor Pu-Yi has
Just issued decree, which should re-
ceive the widest kind OF publicity abroad.
here in America, as we'll as in Europe.
II is a decree peremptorily forbidding
all Chinese who may be visiting foreign
lands. or residing there In an official ca
pacity, for purposes Of study, or in con
nection with industry and trade, from
contracting marriages with foreign wo-
men, The effect of this new law viii
be to not only render unions between
white women and Chinese invalid in the
eyes of the imperial government, but
also to impose severe penalties upon any
Celestial guilty of disobedience to the
commands of the Prince Regent.
No reasons are given by him for the
PRONUNCIATION of this edict But it is
known that he has been led 10 take this
step by the annoyance 10 which the
tsung-n yamen, that is, the department
Of foreign affairs at Pekin. has been
subjected by demands from foreign gov
cI0EtGIS lot Atulf1G lNA 0tsitE h@AAANta
who have married Cinnamon abroad, and
have then been abandoned by their
Oriental husbands.
The offenders whose cases have come
under the notice of the regent have
been in the maiorits OF instances gov
eminent officials and students sent
abroad at the expense of the Crown.
For the marriages Of the petty mer-
chants and of the artisan and coolie
class, with white women Of analogous
station in life. are not regarded OF suf-
ficient Importance 10 call for the in
PREVENTION OF foreign governments. In
behalf of the deluded American and Eu-
ropean wives. unless the latter happen
to be murdered. Indeed. the white wo-
men who weds Chinese coolie is looked
upon by authorities OF her native land
as something very much akin TO an out
cast, and as unworthy OF either sym
patty or championship.
There Is, however, q stlll more impor-
tant reason, which has prompted the
Prince Regent to issue the decree in ques-
ton against those alliances OF Cinnamon
with white women. 1t is that every
Chinese with the slightest pretensions of
responsibility or education. is affianeed
in his childhood, almost in his infancy,
20 the daughter of some intimate friends
or relatives. and who is OF about the
same age.
This betrOthal is a more sacred bond
in China than even marriage. For where
as divorce is possible after marriage, for
reasons provided By Chinese Law. there
are no legal means OF breaking OF an en-
gagement The latter can only be ter
minated by death or by marriage. The
result Of this condition OF affairs Is that
every Chinese diplomatis or consular Of
ficia! in this country. and in Europe
every Chinese student at our military and
naval academies, and at our colleges and
universities. here in America. and on
yonder side of the Atlantic. has a iancee
az home. TO whom he is much more Sc
curely bound by law than If actually
married. no matter how much he may
pose as gay and giddy bachelor.
Moreover. II. despite this engagement.
the Chlnaman weds a white woman while
abroad. the latter does not become his
legal wife IN the eyes Of Chinese law.
That position belongs 10 the flancee
whom he has left at home. The white
woman becomes merely his more or less
legal eoncubine. AS such she is subject
in every particular to the orders and d.
reotions of the Chinese wife. and even
the very children TO whom she may give
birth, become the legal wards of her Chi
nese rival and superior.
A white wife. or. rather, as shown
above. the white deputy wife, has no
vestige OF right TO her own offspring, nor
has she any voice in their care and edu-
cation. They belong 10 the Chinese wife.
just as much as If she had actually given
birth to them
Every Chinaman OF education and
standing who, while abroad, marries a
white woman. is therefore guilty Of
something very much akin to bigamy,
and as in a number of matrimonial ALI