586
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
[B]
RECO
NEGE 24 JUN 09
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[21250]
(No. 179.) Sir,
No. 1.
[June 7.]
SECTION 2.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 7.)
Peking, May 19, 1909. I HAVE the honour to enclose, in translation, copy of an Imperial decree issued in the "Gazette" of the 9th instant, whereby posthumous titles of honour are conferred on five high officials who were executed during the siege of the Legations in 1900 for their douunciation of the Boxer outbreak of that year.
Reference to the courageous parts played by these officials is to be found in Sir Claude MacDonald's despatch No. 125 of the 25th September, 1900, and in Of all the influential Sir Ernest Satow's despatch No. 38 of the 29th January, 1901. personages in Peking at that time they alone ventured to oppose the pretentions of the Boxers and to represent in strongly worded memorials the inevitable consequences to the Empire of such a movement.
While the court was in exile at Hsi-An-fu in Shensi the late Empress-Dowager recognised that their execution had proved unjustifiable, and issued decrees restoring their memories to honour.
It is significant at this late period that the Prince Regent should revert to the subject of their unmerited punishment, and assure for them a place amongst the "immortals" of Chinese history by the bestowal of posthumous titles. Though the decrce was doubtless evoked by a memorial presented by the friends of the deceased Ministers, it is issued in the "Gazette" as a spontaneous act of grace, and is generally understood to indicate that the Prince Regent thereby disassociates himself and his régime from the policy which brought about the disasters of 1900.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Extract from the " Official Gazerte" of May 9, 1909.
IMPERIAL Decree issued on the 9th May directing that Posthumous Titles of Honour be conferred upon certain High Officials executed in 1900.
(Translation.)
WE have reverently read decrees issued in 1900 and 1901 directing that Li-shan, a former President of the Board of Revenue; Hsu Yung-yi, President of the Board of War; Hsü Ching-ch'eng, Senior Vice-President of the Board of Civil Office; Lien-yuan, Sub-Chancellor of the Grand Secretariate; and Yuan-ch'ang, Director of the Court of Sacrificial Worship, who had all incurred unmerited punishment, should be restored to their former ranks, and that their posterity should be chosen for official employment. We dutifully recognise the justice of the action of His late Majesty, taken under the instructions of Her Majesty the august Empress-Dowager, but feel that the patriotism of the deceased statesmen and the sad fate which befell them call for some further mark of favour, and we therefore decree that posthumous titles of honour shall be conferred upon Li-chan, Hsü Yung-yi, Hsü Ching-ch'eng, Lien-yuan, and Yuan-ch'ang.
Let the proper department take note.
[2303 g-2]