Show chinai MESSAGE s 1 1 assures the powers that the government has not been in sympathy with the anarchistic mobs of boxers and that protection has been given the Legation ers washington july 11 an imperial decree dated the third day of the ath moon tune 29 was received by telegraph by minister wu from the tao tal 0 shanghai transmitted on july 1 from the treasurer ot the achl LI province who received it by special courier on june 30 from the board of war who in turn received it from the privy council in peking the decree Is as follows the circumstances which led to the commencement of fighting between chinese and foreigners Is of such a complex confusing and unfortunate character as to be entirely unexpected our diplomatic representatives abroad owing to thel r distance from the scene of action have bad no means of knowing the true state of things and accordingly cannot lay the views of the situation before the ministers for foreign affairs ot the respective spec tive powers to which they are accredited we therefore take this opportunity port unity in going into the affair tor our representatives aforesaid in the first place there arose in the provinces of achl li and shan tung a band of rebellious subjects who had been in the habit of practicing ing and fencing in their respective vil lages and at the same time clothing their doings with spiritual and strange rites the local authorities failed to take sue notice of them at the time accordingly the infection spread with astonishing rapidity within ibe space ol 01 a month it seemed to make its appearance pe arance everywhere and finally even reached the capital itself every one looked upon the movement as supernatural and strange and many joined it then there were lawless and treacherous persons who sounded the cry of down with christianity about the middle of the flath moon these persons began to create disturbances without warning were burned and converts were killed the whole city was in a ferment ferme nf A situation was created which could not be brought under control at first the foreign powers that the foreign troops be allowed to enter the capital for the protection of the legations the imperial government having in view the operative cooperative co urgency of the occasion granted the request as an extraordinary marl of courtesy beyond the requirements of international intercourse ter course over foreign troops were sent to peking this shows clearly how much care china exercised in the maintenance ot friendly relations the legations at peking never had muan to do with the people but from the time foreign troops city the guards did not devote themselves exclusively to the protection of their respective legations they some times fired their guns on top of the city walls and sometimes patrolled the streets everywhere there were reports of persona being hit by stray bullets moreover they strolled about the city without restraint and even attempted to enter the teung hua gate the eastern gate of the palace ground they only resisted desisted des isted when advance was positively forbidden on this account both the soldiers and the people were provoked fo resentment and voiced their indignation with one accord lawless persons then took advantage of the situation to do mischief and bei i came bolder than ever in burning and killing christian converts the pow ers thereupon attempted to reinforce the foreign troops in peking but the reinforcements encountered resistance and defeat at the hands of the in sur gents on belr way and have not been able to proceed the insurgents nta of the two provinces of cht LI and shan tung had by this time affect edi a complete union and could not be sep abated the imperial government was by no means reluctant to issue orders for the enaire suppression of this insurgent element but as trouble was so near at hand there was a great fear that due protection might not be assured to the legations it the anar chests should be driven to extremities thus bringing on a national calamity there also was a tear that uprisings might occur in 1 be provinces ot achl li and shan tune at the same time aia the result that T botn foreign missionaries and chinese converts in the two provinces might fall victims to the popular fury it was therefore absolutely necessary to consider the matter from every point of view a measure ot precaution it was finally decided to request the foreign ministers to retire temporarily to tien tsin tor safety it was while the discussion of this proposition was in pro gress that the german minister baron 1 assassinated by a i i von keteler was riotous mob one morning while on his i way td the LI amen on cheh v previous day the german minister had i written a letter appointing a time tor calling at the tsung yamen but the majneri tearing he might be molested on his way did to the appointment as suggested by the minis ter since this occurrence anarchists assumed a more boll and threatening attitude and consequently it was not deemed wise to carry out the project ot continued on page eight a 0 Q continued from first sending the diplomatic corps to tien tsan under an escort however orders were issued to keep stricter watch and take greater precautions against any emergency to our surprise on the of the fifth moon june 16 foreign naval officers at taku called on lu jung kwang and demanded alg surrender of the borts torts notifying him that calling to receive compliance they would at the next day take steps to seize j the forts by force lu jung kwang being bound by the duties of his office to h old the borts torts how could he yield to the demand on the next day they actually fired first on the forta which responded ea and kept up a fighting all day and then surrendered thus the conflict of forces began but certainly the initiative did not come from our side even supposing that china were not conscious of her true condition how could she take such a step as to engage in war with all the powers simultaneously and how could she relying upon the support of an anarchistic populace go into war wlter the powers our position in this matter ought to be clearly understood by all the powers the above Is a statement of the wrongs we have suffered and how china was driven to the unfortunate position from which she could not escape our several ministers will make known accurately and in detail the contents of this decree and the policy of china to the ministers of foreign affairs in their respective countries and assure them thai military authorities are still strictly enjoined to afford protection to the legations as hitherto to the utmost of their power As tor the anarchists they will be severely dealt with as circumstances permit the several ministers will continue in the discharge of the duties of their offices as hitherto without hesitation or doum this telegraphic decree is to be transmitted for their information repeat this the curious means adopted of forwarding the note are supposed to have been resorted to because what amounts to martial law in civilized countries is now in force in peking and shan tung so that the tsung LI yamen would naturally confide the message to the war board now in supreme control to secure its transmission to shanghai the announced purpose of the chinese government to protect the foreign interests Is gratifying to the officials here tor they have all along been more or less doubtful of the authenticity of tho several dispatches which have emanated from shanghai respecting the relations between prince chang and the legat loners I 1 t S dl it Is said that the note does not call for an answer from the state department at this staga and does not materially affect the military program laid down by our government such forces as we can land in china will be pushed forward with rapidity to peking the only consideration that would induce the administration to relax that program at any point would be the reopening of communications with minister conger and ha release from iny sort ot duress or restraint it is said now that the tsung LI yamen is communicating muni cating with the outer world and it will permit the foreign ministers in peking it they are alive to do the same washington july 11 the document gave great here as lt seemed assuming there was some foundation for the first reports that the imperial government bad engaged the boxers and even participated in the attacks on the legation that an effort Is being made to retrieve that mis fake the note la said to have originated with the fryy and at the state department albis body js declared to be wit the tsung U yamen being the power next to e throne and the one that deals exclusively clu with the foreign powers |