News emanates from the Imperial Palaces that the Empress-Dowager has been indisposed since last week, chiefly on account of the diplomatic difficulties with Japan arising from the case of the Tats Mara, Her Majesty recently granted audiences to Princes Chun and So, and Duke Tsai Tse in the Chingchéag Throne Hall, and talked with them for over an hour about the critical condition of the Chinese Empire and her old age (seventy-four). During the audience the Empress-Dowager twice burst into tears and told the three Imperial clansmen that, in consequence of the unsatisfactory state of affairs in Peking and the various provinces and China's present relations with the Powers, she has been feeling very much depressed lately and that, although she has held the reins of Government for aver forty years, since the death of the Emperor Hsien Fung, she is now at a loss to know what to do for the salvation of Zhins. Her Majesty's condition has now improved, ad but she still keeps her room where she Governor Tang Shao-yi arrived in from Mokden by special train onthe evening of the 13th instant after the completion of the great conference recently held at Mukden between Viceroy Hsii Shih-chang and Governors Tang Shao-yi, Chu Chis-pao and " hong Teh-chuen about the reorganization of the financial, military and foreign affairs of Manchuria. After the conference, a long secret memorial was sent in to the Empress-Dowager, relating to the actions of the Japsnese and Russians. Although the reported resignation of H. E. Yuan Shih-kai from the presidency of the Waiwupu has been refused by the Empress-Dowager, it- ix stated here that Governor Tang Shaoyi will not return to Mukden, but will ultimately become the successor of H. Yuan in the Foreign Ministry.
believed that H.E. Tang will shortly open negotiations with Baron Hayashi, Japanese Minister in Peking, about the proposed extension of the Imperial Railways of North-China from Hsinmintong to Fakamén and thence to Teitsibar.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.