New-York tribune., 1912-03-11
LEGATIONS ARE At ODDS
Powers Make Mutual ACCUSE
tionS in Peking.
JAPANO-GERMAN SQUABBLE
Republican Victory Made Easier
by Failure of Outsiders to
Observe Neutrality.
tRv the Regular Correspondent. OF This Tribune
peking

nv the Regular Correspondent OF The Tribune
in Pekng
Pekinr. Feb 5--Just now preparations
arc being made for the retirement Of the
boy Emperor. the Empress Dowager and
all the Manchus. The departure Of the
regime has been halted momentsriy while
Yuan shih-ksi is negotiating with revolu-
tionaries at Nanking for the best terms he
can procure for the throne. II is mostly
matter Of money and the treatment OF
the Emperor and the imperial clan.
The princes and noblemen who opposed
abdication have practically withdrawn
from the scene Most Of them have taken
leaves OF absence. as officials here fire.
ouently do when there is trouble brewing
The hoplessness OF the cause was i'm
pressed upon the Empress Dowager, and
few days ago word came forth from the
Forbidden City that the Empress DoTager
had declared herself for peace. On Febru-
ary Yuan Shh-ksi went TO an imperial
audience, the first he has attended since
the day when he was greeted with bomb
on HIS way home from the palace. That
was January ls Yuan came away from
the palace on the - with verbal instruc-
tions from the Empress Dowager 10 GO
ahead with the negotiations with the Tevo-
lutionaries concerning abdication. His au-
thority was complete, and in effect he was
told 10 get the best terms he could.
The international phase OF the Chinese
situation is growing more interesting, and
there are many signs that the harmony
Of action which was the policy Of all the
great countries interested I'm this row does
not exist to the Same extent Is during the
early DAYS Of the revolution. An expert on
international law could pick many flaws IN
the course followed by more than one
power The Germans and japanese are
carrying on a warfare In the press over
alleged violations Of the rules of the game
Some time back stories were circulated
among the rebels that the Germans were
assisting the mperialists by selling them
arms and ammunition and other munitions
OF war. This had a bad effect upon Ger
man trade along the YangTse, and the
Germans have been very angry about It.
Then the Germans. through the press
service which ia maintained in the Far
East. made innumerable countercharges,
accusing the Japanese of selling To the
rebels. which. according 10 a strict inter
pretation OF international law. Is wrong
The imperial government here has tacitlv
recognized them In many ways, principally
by treating with them for peace. but inter
nationally speaking. the revolutionaries are
merely rebels, and as such are not entitled
TO recognition. That the japanese sold
munitions as charged seems very we'll es-
tabIished. but so has every one else sold
munitions and supplies when they have
had the chance. The japanese are also
accused of helping out the anti-impertal-
lists in Manchuria, but this they vehement
" DENY and declare that their attitude
there and elsewhere has been entirely
correct Even though there has been no
recognition Of even the hellgerency Of the
revolutionists, much less their government.
nothing can be done 10 prevent traffic with
them. There is no one to say no. The i'm
perIal government here is helpless and no
ono seems really to care about It.
Nevertheless the powers did say COED
deal some weeks back about preserving
| neutrality and not taking sides In this
Chinese family affair, and. as matter Of
| fact. this course has not been followed
There has been little neutrality ana the
renublicans have profted time and again
| by the failure of the powers to observe
neutrality. Had the powers lived up 10
| tbeir original declarations as 10 neutrality
| tho republcans would not have had such
an easy time of II.