PRINCE CHING AND COUNT WALDERSEE.

Press, Issue LVII, 4 December 1900, Page 5

PRINCE CHING AND COUNT WALDERSEE.

THE MURDERER OP THE GERMAN 3JLINISTER.

(Br Asrmra H. A»_jm. Ova Se-ecut, Cob-M.I-OXDBST is China.) PKKIN, September 25.

Affairs in dipl**™** cirole3 in P^ n ™ in . 'i state of suspended animation, lhe allied forces hold the capital, and have to a certain "tent pacified the country within a radius of a doaeTmiles **>*•* ,he city waß '' Tl,oy have rescaed the Legations, and are wondering what m this quaint Chinese world they are to do «xt, T*-* fo * ei S n Ministers are* accredited to tlie Chines* Government, but the Chinese Government ie m somewhat the mm position as Mr Kruger. Cabinet, It ismovedfrom ptoee to olace in the interior in accordance as the Dowager Empress thinks .he is far enough from the foreign devils. With an Emperor a fugitive in hi_-ing-no one can positively say where he is at the present moment-the only visible sign of his existence is his Royal Highness Prince Ching. This nobleman played a fairly satisfactory part (for a Chiiu«) during the siege of the Legations. Hi* t">°P s t o ok no «88™«w c part in the attack on one occasion, for which the excuse suggested is that- he had to make an appe&iance of hostility to the foreigners in order to save his own head. Such a lapse would be quit© consistent, from the Oriental paint of view, with friendship with the foreigners. But there is one black mark upon Ching's reputation.- which, if true, would put liis claims to act as the Emperor's plenipotentiary quite out of court. To this allegation I shall refer later. About a fortnight ago Prince Ching, accompanied by his retinue of servunts and the ladies of hie household, appeared outside the cit**. and sent in Ids secretary, asking if lie would be granted protection. This was accorded, and he advanced into the city. He paid ceremonial visits to all the Ministers, nnd represented himself as empowered by the Enipc.or to maks- treatment for peace, and the settlement of the present difficulty. He wits not to act alone, but Li Hung Chang and some high Chinese olficlal in Pekin were to he his colleagues in this attempt at settlement. Ching had no delegated power to conclude a treaty; that would be assented to at the right time by the Emperor himself, who would also uppear at the proper time.

Such is the position as far ac in this nest of diplomatic secrecy it is possible to be sure of anything. Li Hung Cluing is reported to be on his way to this city, and his arrival here is daily expected.

While the other Powers have apparently accepted Prince Ching as a trustworthy and well-meaning representative of the Emperor, Germany does not appear to have recognised his Royal Highness at all.' The German Legation would not* even recognise the Cliinese language that is tlie customary means of intercourse in all diplomatic communications to the Chinese Government. The reply that Prince Ching received to hie letter was in French. This attitude is due to the murd_i* of Baron yon Ketteler, the German Minister, at the beginning of the trouble, which event has been suddenly thrown into ths greatest prominence by the discovery and arrest of the soldier who killed that gentleman. The Japanese, who have s>o many admirable military airangements, have in the city a. system i.f (secret police. To this department cam. .lie information that a Chinese iiad sold to a pawn-shop several trinkets, one of which, a watch, bore tlie B.iron'a initials. The man whs qukkiy; traced ard arrested, He was at once taken into the presence of the interpreter, who was with tlie Baron on that fatal day, and who said that he could identify tlie murderer. Tha interpreter and the arrested mun recognised each other at once. Tried by the Germane, the nian admitted quite simply that-he bad shot at and killed the Baron. He said, however, that ho was a soldier in Prince Chlng's army, and had received orders from the Prince un the morning of the event to shoot unv foreigners who cumc down the read. Th._eord-.rs he had simply curried out; they were the orders of his commander. Prince Citing, and he was but a common soldier.

Apparently the mun is speaking the truth. He is held a close prisoner by tire German military authorities. But it will be seen that Prince Ching'a claim to a_t as an Intea*nicdutrv between the Emperor and the Powers is not improved by this aspect of his friendship towards ths foreign.rs. Meanwhile there Ls on his way to Pekin another personage whose appearance will doubtless add considerably to ths com- ?*?&?* t b< . Bitu *''on- Count Wuldersee, laeld Marshal 0 f the German Army, at the lteud of 12.00Q picked German troops, is reported to hi ot Yang-tsun, on his way to the capital lhe Field Marshal, who is second in the German Army only to tha Emperor, will m all probability fix his headquarters in .he 1 nine* itself, now so jealously guarded from tha intrusion of foreigners. And Count Waldswc.'. ha s not come ail ihiß w _.; th tha emphatic W ord ß of his Emperor ringing in hn* tars without intending to do something. And rumour points persistently to a big expodition south to P«o-ting-fu, capital of the Province of Chi-H, which I suggested a month ago as.likely to take place But whether this armed miu-ch to the stronghold of tlie Boxers will take place immediately, or be deferred till the spring, will not be known till the arrival of Count Waldersee.