In answer to a query, "Who inspired the new policy at Peking?"
Kang replied—' About two years ago, two officials, Chang Lin and Wang Ming-luan, sent a memorial to the Emperor advising hima to the take power into his own bunds, stating that the Empress-Downgor was only the concubine of his uncle, Emperor Hsien Feng; therefore ucoording to Chinese law she could not be recognised an the proper Empress-Dowager. The result of this memorial was that the two officials were dismissed for ever. They were Vico-Presidents of Boards, one being a Manchu and the other a Soochow man, The Emperor recognises that the Empress-Dowager is not his real mother. Since the Emperor begsn to display an interest in affairs of State the Empress-Dowager has been scheming hie deposition, She used to play cards with him, and gave him intoxicating drinks in order to prevent him from attending to State affairs. For the greater part of the last two years the Emperor has been practically the figure-head against his own wishes, After the oceupation of Kiwochou by the Germans, the Emperor was very furious, and said to the Em-ress-Dowagot: 'Unless I have the power will not take my seat as Emperor; I will abdicate.' The result was that the Empress-Dowager gave in to him to a certain extent, telling him that he could do as he like', but although she said this with her mouth her heart was different."
"How do you know this?" asked th terviewed. "Did you hear it yourself?
Kang's reply was: No, I bleard it from other officials."
Who recommended you to the notice of the Emperor?"
was recommended to the Emperor by Kao Hsi-tseng, one of the Censors, a native of Hupeh. Then Wong Tung: ho, the Emperor's Tutor, who is supposed to he one of the most conservative officials in China, but is not actually so, devoted some xttention to me, and Li Tuan-fen, President of the Board of Rites. These officials wisher to introduce me to the Emperor to give me some responsible office anI to put me beside the Emperor as his advicer.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.