It was reported in local Mandarin circles yesterday that the Chinese fast cruisers Haitien and Haich'i were expected to arrive at Woosung this morning from Kiangyin to enforce the Neutrality of Shanghai. This is as it should be.
Yuan Shih-kai as Commander-in-
Chief.
A Tientsin dispatch states that Viceroy Yuan Shih-kai has received special in- peo) structions from the Throne to take up the supreme command of the Chinese We have been favoured with the follow-jing translation Proclamation of Yuan the Shanghai Superintendent of Customs defining the [neutrality of China during the war be-[tween Japan and Russia. On 14th February of the present year I received dispatch from the Nanyang Tachon Wei telegram stating that ho has received ths following edict. " Japan and Russia being now at war with each other it appears to us the sovereign authority in {China that both these nations are on friendly terms with us, and that we ought be neutral. We have therefore formu-Hated the following regulations for the guidance of our people during this war. The Manchu Commandants, Viceroys, and Governors, are hereby ordered to direct all civil and military officers under their jurisdiction to act in accordance with these rules. They should issue proclamations to the army and people carefully to attend to the same regulations so that the harmony of the nations concerned may be strengthened and the peace of the world promoted. There should be no misconduct or misunderstanding and to secure this result the rules are here stated that all may know them. Respect this."
The Viceroy having received this decree issued it in a proclamation accordingly.
adds that he learns by a dispatch from the Peiyang Tachen Yuen that he has received the following rules for neutrals pointing out what they are forbidden to do. They have been formulated by the Waiwupu and have been telegraphed by that board to the Peiyang Viceroy directing him to issue them in the form of a proclamation that they may be made known everywhere. All men on land or on sea or places on rivers, in all commercial ports, cities and market towns should know that our country China is on friendly terms with Japan and with Russia. These two countries are now at war and our people belong to a neutral nation; as neutrals they must not assist the belligerents with any arm requirements. We. must not do anything to disturb our peaceful relations with either country. Our people must not disobey the rules of international law. We shall then be on more amicable terms with the ple of both these nations. Here follow the prohibitory rules which must be strictly obeyed by all persons who read
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.