We translate below the following Imperial Edict issued on the 4th instant We have received the report of the Board of Revenue, made in obedience to our commands, with reference to a memorial by Huang Sze-jung, a member of the Supervisorate of Instruction of the Heir-Apparent, in which is recommended the issuance of Government Bonds for the purpose of raising funds for the Imperial exchequer. The said Board having gone carefully and minutely over the memorial question agree with the views contained therein recommending that "the Boatd of Revenue shall print one million Bond certificates (of Tls. 100 each), to be styled Sincerity Bonds," and distributed for sale at Peking and in the various
ear interest at the rate of 5% per annum, of the Empire, the said Bonds to the same to be all redeemed by the Imperial Government within the period of twenty years,' interest to be paid up to date of redemption. The said Bonds are to be also saleable and transferable at all times within the above period and their actual value shall be guaranteed by the Imperial Government. At the several crieds set for the redemption of the said fonds the holders thereof shall have liberty to use the said Bonds in mens of land taxes and salt duties. The said Bonds, shall be distributed and sold to all classes Of the country, beginning from the Princes, Dukes, and Nobles downwards in Peking and from the Tartar-Generals, Viceroys, and Governors in the provinces down to their civil and military subordinates of every rank, grade, and cla whether substantive or expectant. Thes shall buy up and pay cash for the said Bonds so as to set an example to the business men of the country. Those of the business classes and others amongst the people of the Empire having shown a desire also to buy the said Bonds shall have perfect liberty to do so, in which case it shall be the duty of the Governor of the Imperial Prefecture of Shuntien, at Peking, and the various Tartar-Generals, Viceroys, and Governors in the provinces to proclaim at once to the people at large the regulations settled upon the said Board of Revenue governing the issuance and sale of said Bonds. The said High Authorities shall also appoint deputies to explain to the people the true nature of the said Bonds and any attempts by the said deputies to take advantage of the occasion to extort and force the sale of the said Bonds upon the masses must be strictly prohibited. The deputies charged with the sale of the said Bonds to the people who shall succeed in obtaining large sums therefrom will be rewarded with extraordinary promotion in recognition of their energy and ability."
The said Board having agreed to the above-quoted proposition we hereby command that the same be forthwith regarded as Law.
In_a crisis like the present when the Imperial Exchequer is depleted, we feel sure that our Princes, Dukes, Nobles and Ministers in the Capital and the high authorities in the provinces who have been the recipients of our special Bounty will surely show their gratitude to the Throne Ly Acne responding to the needs of the Government. Nay, even the gentry, notables, and business men down to the common people must surely know their duty and loyalty to the Imperial dynasty and hasten to the succour of the "Throne at this moment of emergency. Finally, as it is decided by the said Board of Revenue that the present movement is entirely different from the former methods of calling upon the people of the Empire to render help to the Imperial Government, nor will any force be permit-t-d to compel the masses to buy the said Bonds, the present scheme being on the basis of a commercial transaction where a regular interest shall be paid at stated intervals, we trust that there will be no delay in encompassing the object of this Loan and that our people will not simply wok on and remain indifferent (to the n¢ of the Empire]. Let the above be promulgated to all the people of the Empire.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.