Mr. Rockhill to
Mr. Hay.
Commissioner of the United States to
China,
Shanghai
China, October 3,
1900.
No. 9.]Sir: As of possible interest to the
Department, I have the honor to inclose herewith clippings from the
North China Daily News of October 1, 1900, publishing translations
of imperial decree granting imperial funeral sacrifices in honor of
the late Baron von Ketteler, commanding Yu Hsien, governor of
Shansi, to resign, and appointing Hsi Liang, provincial treasurer of
Hunan, to succeed him; promoting Wang Pei-yu, governor of Peking, to
be director of the court of sacrificial worship, and appointing
Ch’en K’uei-lung to be governor of Peking.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
W. W. Rockhill,
United States
Commissioner.
[Inclosure 1.]
Imperial decrees 25th September.
[From the North China Daily
News (Shanghai) October 3,
1900.]
imperial funeral sacrifices
granted the late baron von ketteler.
(1) We have already expressed our deep regret and sympathy for
the death of the late Baron von Ketteler, minister of the great
German Empire to this court at the time of his murder by
soldiers in Pekin. Now as we recall to mind the urbanity,
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courtesy, and firmness
of the late minister in his relation with our Government ever
since his arrival in China, we feel all the more the loss we
have suffered from his premature death, and we therefore hereby
bestow upon him an Imperial funeral sacrifice before the
remains, and command the Grand Secretary K’un Kang (Manchu) to
proceed on date of his receipt of this decree at once to perform
the said Imperial funeral sacrifices and to pour out a libation
before the remains on our behalf. Furthermore, when the late
Baron von Ketoeler’s coffin is started on its way to his native
country we hereby command the viceroys of Chihli and the
Liangkiang provinces, in their capacity of Imperial
commissioners of the Peiyang and Nanyang administration, to take
all precautions for the safe transportation of the said remains
through their respective jurisdictions; and, finally, when the
late minister’s remains shall have reached Germany, we further
command Lu Hai-huan, junior vice-president of the board of
revenue and our minister to the court of Berlin, to proceed
forthwith and perform another Imperial funeral sacrifice before
the said remains, pouring forth a libation on our behalf, as a
true mark of our constant desire never to forget the duties we
owe to a friendly State.
[Inclosure 2.]
Imperial decree of 26th
September.
[Shanghai,] October 1, 1900.
[From the North China Daily News.]
Yü Hsien, governor of Shansi, is hereby commanded to resign his
post and await further appointment from the Throne. Hsi Liang
(Manchu), provincial treasurer of. Hunan, is hereby promoted to
be governor of Shansi. [Note.—Hsi
Liang was one of the first high provincial officials who led
troops to “rescue the Empress Dowager,” and is a man very
similar in character to the notorious Yü Hsien, whom he now
succeeds.—Translator.]
Imperial, decree.
Wang Pei-yu, governor of Pekin, is promoted director of the court
of sacrificial worship and Ch’en K’nei-lung is appointed
governor of Pekin in his stead.
