File No. 14911/103–104.
Minister Rockhill to the Secretary of State.
Peking, May 6, 1909.
Sir: I have the honor to report that the special ambassadors [to attend the imperial funeral ceremonies] were received in audience and presented their letters of credence on April 26. Prince Fushimi, the special representative of Japan, was received first. I followed as dean, and the other ambassadors in the order agreed upon. The ambassadors were received separately; the audience in each case was short, but dignified and impressive. The ambassadors, in presenting their letters of credence, expressed briefly the condolence and sympathy of the heads of the state and of the nation they represented. This was acknowledged by the Prince Regent, who requested that his thanks be conveyed to the various chiefs of state. The letters, which had been presented to him, were placed on a table in front of the imperial throne, which was not occupied by the infant Emperor. The Prince Regent occupied a position in front at the right of the throne, in the same chair which was formerly occupied by the late Emperor when audiences were granted by him and the late Empress Dowager, who sat on the throne proper.
The next official ceremony took place on April 29. The ambassadors, accompanied by their staffs, assembled at a pavilion inside the Tung-hua-mên of the palace and separately advanced to the hall in which the remains of the late Empress Dowager were lying in state. This ceremony was also simple and dignified. Each ambassador, followed by his suite, entered the hall, bowed to the imperial coffin, then bowed to the Prince Regent, who was standing beside it, and retired. Half an hour later the same ceremony was observed before the remains of the late Emperor, lying in state in another hall situted inside the east gate of the Coal Hill.
The funeral of the late Emperor took place on Saturday, May 1. The ambassadors and their suites assembled outside the eastern gate of the Coal Hill at a temporary pavilion erected for that purpose. The funeral procession had already been formed. At 10.30 the procession started, the staffs of the ambassadors leading, accompanied [Page 218] by officials of the Wai-wu Pu. They were followed by the grand council, the Imperial Princes, after whom were the ambassadors in the order set out in the program. After the foreign representatives walked the Japanese Prince Fushimi and some officers of his staff. Next came the Prince Regent, surrounded by palace officials. Immediately behind him was carried the catafalque, draped in embroidered yellow silk, and on which the imperial remains were borne. The ambassadors walked in the procession for about a quarter of a mile to a temporary pavilion which had been erected about 100 yards south of the Hou-mên, where they arranged themselves along the left side of the street. The Prince Regent advanced, bowed to each ambassador, thanked him for his presence, and the cortege proceeded on its way to the Hsi Ling, four days journey from Peking. All foreigners in Peking were afforded an opportunity to witness the procession, and the day passed off without unpleasant incident of any kind.
On Sunday, May 2, Prince Ch’ing entertained Prince Fushimi at tiffin at his residence, and the other officials of the Wai-wu Pu gave a luncheon to the ambassadors and their suites at the new botanical gardens.
On Monday, May 3, the Price Regent entertained Prince Fushimi, of Japan, and the special ambassadors and chiefs of missions here at a formal luncheon in the banqueting hall in the winter gardens of the palace. This entertainment is noteworthy as the first ever given by a sovereign of China in the imperial palace. The Regent was extremely cordial, shaking hands with various representatives and showing an evident desire to be pleasant. I had the honor, of sitting beside the Regent at table, and he talked pleasantly both to me and Prince Fushimi, who sat facing him. After luncheon the Regent presented to each of the envoys his photograph.
The department will recall that under the provisions of Annex 19 of the final protocol of September 7, 1901 (par. 6), it was agreed that if the Emperor should decide upon inviting the representatives of the powers to banquet, it should be given them in the imperial palace and His Majesty should be present in person.
On the following day a luncheon was offered to all the special ambassadors and their staffs at the Wai-wu Pu Building. This was the last official entertainment, and most of the special envoys are leaving Peking tomorrow or next day.
Russia was represented by Gen. Palytzyne, of the council of the empire and the general staff. He was accompanied by five or six officials and made the Russian Legation his headquarters.
France, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, and Mexico were represented by their diplomatic representatives at Tokyo.
The other powers accredited their ministers here as special ambassadors for the funeral ceremonies.
Funeral offerings of silver wreaths were presented by Russia, Japan, France, and England.
I inclose copy of a note1 which I have received from the Prince of Ch’ing, advising me of the telegram of thanks sent the American Government by the Regent for having accredited me ambassador extraordinary for the occasion.
I have, etc.,
- Not printed.↩