Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 7, 1909
File No. 1518/247–248.
Minister Rockhill to the Secretary of State.
Peking, December 23, 1908.
Sir: In continuation of my dispatch No. 1051, of November 30 last,1 I have the honor to transmit herewith a translation of a memorial submitted to the Throne by the grand secretariat, the boards and yamens, fixing the powers, duties, and prerogatives of the Regent of the Empire. This memorial was sanctioned by imperial rescript of the 13th instant.
I have, etc.,
laws governing the regency.
(Imperial rescript issued December 13, 1908.)
The grand secretariat and the different boards and yamens have jointly memorialized in conformity with the edict of the late great Empress Dowager submitting a set of laws governing the Prince Regent. These he has submitted to the sacred glance of the Empress Dowager and all should be done as recommended. Let the several yamens obey.
I.—Sacrificial announcement.
The ordinances and ceremonies of the Regent are of the most august character and an imperial edict should be requested setting a time and designating officials to make the announcement at the Temple of Ancestors. The Prince Regent, also, should reverently receive his commission and seal before the sacrificial table of the late great Empress Dowager. For a commission it will be necessary merely to use the two edicts issued by Her late Imperial Majesty on the 20th and the 22d of the tenth moon (November 13, 15, 1908), without making out any additional document.
II.—Edicts.
The Government of the nation, military and civil, the dismissal and appointment of officials and their promotion and degradation, are all left to the determination and decision of the Prince Regent. The mode of procedure shall still be by the promulgation of imperial edicts. In affairs of exceptional import there Will arise occasions when it will be incumbent on the Prince Regent to request a decree from Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager, in which case the Prince Regent shall personally seek instructions as to his course. Others shall not arrogate this privilege to themselves and ask instructions of the Empress Dowager, nor shall they presume to transmit the same on their own authority.
III.—Mode of address.
In the presence of the Empress Dowager the Prince Regent shall speak of himself as “Minister” (Ch’en) and shall observe the rules applicable to that character.
In edicts he shall refer to himself as “Prince Regent” (Chien Kwo She Cheng Wang), without using his own name.
In referring to the Emperor the Prince Regent shall use the expression “Emperor” (Hwang Ti).
In addressing others the Prince Regent shall refer to himself as “I, the Prince Regent” (pen She Cheng Wang).
When addressing closely related members of the imperial clan, whether of higher or lower generations, princes down to dukes, the Prince Regent shall make use of the title of the person addressed. In case of all others, being [Page 127] officials of or above the fifth grade, or members of the Han Lin Yuan of or above the rank of compiler of the second class, or a Han Lin graduate of the third degree, he shall make use of the official title of the person addressed. If of or below the sixth grade he shall make use of the name and given name of the person addressed. Princes of the third order and downward, military and civil officials of all ranks, shall address the Prince Regent as such (She Cheng Wang), and shall refer to themselves by name. Closely related members of the imperial clan of higher or lower generations and princes shall use the form of address “Prince Regent” (She Cheng Wang), and shall refer to themselves by their titles.
IV.—Worship on behalf of the Emperor.
During the minority of the Emperor the Prince Regent shall represent His Imperial Majesty in all worship at altars and temples and also during the present mourning rites. But the yamens concerned shall in advance request instructions from the Throne as to whether the Throne desires to appoint any other official to conduct the worship in place of the Emperor.
V.—Military powers.
The Emperor has supreme control over the naval and military forces of the Empire. The military powers constitutionally appertaining to the Emperor shall all be transferred to the Prince Regent. The control and disposition of all Manchu and territorial forces in and outside of Peking, as well as of all land and naval forces whatsoever, shall be vested in the Prince Regent.
VI.—The education of the Emperor.
During the period when the Emperor is pursuing his studies the direction of the said studies and the appointing and conduct of his tutors shall be attended to by the Prince Regent.
VII.—Procedure at audiences.
On those occasions when His Imperial Majesty ascends to the Throne to receive congratulations on feast days or birthdays the Prince Regent shall not be classed with other officials and he shall not attend these ceremonies. When in the palace in the performance of family observances, the Empress Dowager receives congratulations, the Prince Regent shall perform said rites individually and not with the others.
All princes, nobles, and officials, after offering congratulations to the Emperor, shall proceed to a position before the Prince Regent and offer him congratulations also. These ceremonies shall be performed before the Prince Regent in the Wen Hua Hall, during which he shall remain standing. He may, at his discretion, acknowledge them with a salutation.
The members of the imperial clan of close relationship, being of a higher generation than the Prince Regent, shall be differentiated from the others, and the officers having the direction of the ceremonies shall memorialize the Prince Regent in advance, who may at his discretion, relieve such relatives from the necessity of performing them and permit their early withdrawal. Other princes, nobles, and officials shall perform three prostrations before the Prince Regent. After 100 days of mourning the Prince Regent shall receive the homage of princes, nobles, and officials in the order of their precedence, and on that occasion the above shall be the form of procedure.
VIII.—The seats at audiences.
It is intended to request that a throne be placed in the center of the Yang Hsin Hall and also a table. To the east of the throne a seat and table shall be provided for the Prince Regent. When princes, nobles, or officials have occasion to kneel in offering greetings or in returning thanks for imperial favor, these prostrations shall be made before the throne. At daily audiences princes, nobles, and officials shall first, kneeling, salute the Throne. They shall then rise and proceed to the eastern apartment, where the interview will be held. In the center of this room a table shall be placed and on the east side a chair for the Prince Regent. On the two sides shall be arranged lower stools. The Prince Regent shall be seated, and if he shall command the official being [Page 128] interviewed to seat himself, the latter shall do so on one of the stools; but if not he shall remain standing until, at the termination of the interview, the Prince Regent dismisses him, when he shall depart.
No prince, noble, or official shall, on his own initiative, visit the Prince Regent in his residence, but all must await summons, except princes and nobles of close relationship and other relatives. Princes, nobles, and ministers of state may, however, when Government affairs of magnitude require it, at any time request an interview in the Prince Regent’s unofficial apartments, and on being summoned may enter and see him. When princes, nobles, or officials receive promotion they may, as formerly, submit memorials reverently returning thanks to the Emperor for his grace, and need not with obeisances thank the Prince Regent.
IX.—Affixing of seal and signature.
The Prince Regent will affix his seal to and the members of the grand council will sign all edicts; afterward they may be promulgated.
If the Prince Regent shall receive in person the decree of the Empress Dowager he shall sign the same officially, affixing his seal, and finally the grand councilors shall sign their names.
X.—Form of correspondence.
Memorials shall continue to be addressed by officials to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor. When the Prince Regent is referred to in memorials or in any correspondence, his name shall be given one elevation.
XI.—Representing the Emperor in Parliament.
When a Parliament has been established, the Prince Regent shall attend the same in place of the Emperor. He need not attend the ordinary sessions, however.
When the constitutional commission meets, the Prince Regent shall likewise represent the Emperor there.
XII.—Foreign relations.
The Prince Regent shall have full authority in negotiating treaties and in appointing representatives abroad. The board of Foreign Affairs shall report and formulate upon such matters as the manner of receiving autograph letters from foreign rulers, and the audiences of foreign representatives in China.
XIII.—The Prince Regent’s equipage abroad.
The Prince Regent shall enter and leave his chair at the Ch’ien Ch’ing Gate. The yamens whose duty it is shall draw up and report on regulations, modeled on the precedent established by Prince Jui-chung regarding the equipage, escort, and general preparations for movements of the Prince Regent outside the palace.
XIV.—Income and expenditures of the Prince Regent.
Every year the board of finance shall transfer to the department of the imperial household the sum of taels 150,000 for disbursement (in the maintenance of the Prince Regent’s household.)
XV.—Residence of Prince Regent.
It is intended to request that a palace be constructed for the Prince Regent to the west of the Central Lake in the place called Chi Ling Yu, and that the “san Soa” inside the Tung Hua Gate be additional rest apartments.
XVI.—Termination of his prerogatives.
When the Emperor comes of age, his studies being completed, and his marriage takes place, the official body shall unite in asking his majesty to assume personal direction of the Government.
If it shall be necessary to add to the above regulations, or abridge them or to alter them, such changes shall be made only by the Prince Regent. No one else shall press me to do so.
- Not printed.↩