File No. 1518/72–73.

Minister Rockhill to the Secretary of State .

No. 742.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith an edict of Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager, published on the 20th instant, taking the first step looking to the calling of what I think may be considered as a constituent or constitutional assembly, although some doubt still exists as to the exact duties to be performed by the “Tzu Cheng Yuan.” The choice of officials to preside over it is, to say [Page 192] the least, curious—the prince a young, intelligent, but untried man (he was recently, you will recollect, appointed a probationer in the Grand Council, the first office of importance he has held), the other a venerable statesman of 80, who has passed all his official career in Peking, where he has held offices in most of the departments of Government.

I have, etc.,

W. W. Rockhill.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Imperial edict.

We have received from Her Imperial Majesty Tzu-hsi, etc., an imperial edict as follows:

“The first thing to do in establishing a representative government is to get a consensus of opinion in the matter. Upper and lower houses of representatives are certainly essential factors in governmental administration. China can not establish such houses of representatives in a moment. We should immediately, however, establish a ‘constitutional assembly’ (Tzu Cheng Yuan) that a foundation may be laid for a parliament.

“Prince P’u-lun and Sun Chia-nai are hereby appointed as presidents of this body. Let the said presidents, together with the grand council, carefully deliberate upon and draw up detailed regulations for it, submitting the same for the approval of the Throne.”