CHINESE EMPKESS' EDICT. RESISTANCE ORDERED TO FOREIGN AGGRESSION. AUTHORITY TO DECLARE WAR.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3217, 22 March 1900, Page 4

CHINESE EMPKESS' EDICT. RESISTANCE ORDERED TO FOREIGN AGGRESSION. AUTHORITY TO DECLARE WAR.

Eeuter's Correspondent at Shanghai, writing on December 27th, says that the text of a secret Edict, issued by the Empress Dowager on her own initiative on November 21st last, and addressed by the Tsung-li-Yamen to all the viceroys and governors of the Maritime and Yang-tse provinces, is published by the North China Herald. The Edict, which was addressed to the viceroys, governors, Tartar generals, and provincial commanders-in-chief, says : — Our Empire ia now labouring under great difficulties, which are becoming daily more serious. The various Powers cast upon us looks of tiger-like voracity, hustling each other m their endeavours to be the first to seize upon our innermost territories. They think that China, having neither money nor troops, would never venture to go to war with them. 'f hey fail to understand, however, that there are certain things which this Empire can never consent to, and that, if hardly pressed upon, we have no alternative but to rely upon the justice of our cause. But there is an evil habit, which has become almost a custom, amongst viceroys and governors which, however, must be eradicated at all costs. For instance, whenever these high officials have had on their hands cases of international dispute, all their actions aeem to be guided by the belief m their breasts that such cases would eventally be amicably arranged. These words seem never to be out of their thoughts ; hence, when matters do come to a crisis, they, of course, find themselves utterly unprepared to resist any hostile aggressions on the part of the foreigner. I^ ls^ )Urspecial command, therefore, that, should any high official find himself so hard pressed by circumstances that nothing short of a war would settle matters, he is expected to set himself resolutely to work out his duty to this end. It behoves, therefore, that our viceroys, governors, and commanders-in-chief throughout the whole empire unite forces and act together, without distinc tion or particularising of jurisdictions, bo as to present a combined front to the enemy, exhorting and encouraging their officers and soldiers m person to fight for the preservation of their homes and native soil from *he encroaching footsteps of the foreign aggressor. Never should the word "peace" fall from the mouth 3of our high officials, nor should they even allow it to rest for a moment wiLhin their breasts. With such a country as oure, with her vast area, stretching out several tens of thousands ofli, her immense natural resources, and her hundreds of millions of inhabitants— if only each and allot you would prove his loyalty to his Emperor and love of country— what, indeed, is there to fear from any invader ? Let no one think of making peace, but let each strive to preserve from destruction and epoilation his ancestral home and graves from the ruthless hand of tfie invader. Let these our words be made known to each and all within our domains.