Office of the Historian

Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay.

Legation of the United States,
Peking, August 7, 1902.
No. 1063.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit translation of two Imperial edicts published in the Official Gazette yesterday, making several changes among provincial officials.

[Page 174]

The most important is the removal of Kw’ei-chun as viceroy of Sze-ch’uan, and the appointment of Ts’en Ch’un-hsuan instead, occasioned, no doubt, by the failure of the former to suppress the recent serious disturbances there. (See my dispatch No. 1061, of this date.)

It will take the new viceroy three months to reach his post, but it is to be hoped that even the news of his coming will tend to improve the present situation.

The following is a very brief official history of the new appointees:

Ts’en Ch’un-hsuan, governor of Shan-si, was recently appointed governor of Kuang-tung. He is now suddenly appointed acting viceroy of Sze-ch’uan.

Li Hsing-jui was minister to Japan, 1887; retired to be taotai of Shan-tung, 1895; became salt commissioner, 1896; judicial commissioner Fu-kien, 1897; financial commissioner Fu-kien, 1899; governor of Kiang-si.

Ko Feng-shih, compiler Han-lin, literary chancellor Shen-si, 1888. Ting Chen-toh, governor of Yun-nan, 1898; appointed governor of Shan-si, 1902.

Chao Erh-hsun, taotai of Kwei-chow, 1893; judicial commissioner of An-hui, 1895; judicial commissioner of Shan-si, 1898; financial commissioner of New Dominion, 1898.

I have, etc.,

E. H. Conger.
[Inclosure 1.—Translation.]

From the Peking Gazette of August 5, 1902.

edict.

Ts’en Ch’un-hsuan is hereby commanded to come to Peking for audience.

Ting Chen-toh not having as yet reached his post as governor of Shan-si, we command Chao Erh-hsun to be governor of that province for the time being.

Respect this.

[Inclosure 2.—Translation.]

From the Peking Gazette of August 5, 1902.

edict.

Kw’ei-chun (viceroy of Sze-ch’uan) is hereby commanded to vacate his post.

We command Ts’en Ch’un-hsuan (late governor of Shan-si) to be acting viceroy of Sze-ch’uan, and command Li Hsing-jui (governor of Kiang-si) to be acting governor of Kuang-tung instead of Ts’en.

Ko Feng-shih is commanded to take the place of Li as governor of Kiang-si as locum tenens.

Respect this.