rworanpoM To THE NATIONAL
The following Memorandam, "re-nesting consideration of the breaches of law committed by the Nan Viceroy Chang and of the encroach manta upon the rights of the (Provincial) Assembly " throws some. farther light pon the attacks made in the National Assembly in Peking upon Viceroy Chang Jen-chan We observe in Article 27 of the Assembly's rales that if the Viceroy of the Province encroaches upon the rights of the Assembly or disregards law, the Ansembly shall address 1 statem the National Assembly, asking its consideration Now in view of an actual encroach ment by the Viceroy Chang upon rights of this Assembly, together with such breaches of law, we discased thie matter on November 21 in accordance with the 27th Role, and arrived at a decision to present a request to yourselves for your consideration, We have accordingly to set forth in their order idence as to these breaches the part of the Viceroy (bang, encroachments upon our 0 other banks in Shanghai failed, owing large monies to foreisca and Chinese merchants, The alresay degraded Tsotsi of the Sa Sung Tao ciroait, Tsai Nai-hoang, and the (baird man of the Shanghai hives Chamber of Commerce, Chou (bia-piso, submitted a deceptive petition to the Viceroy, who memorialized the Throne and obtained an official lasa of foreiga monies to the amount of Tle. 3,500,000 for repayment on behalf of the merchants concerned of the sums for which they have failed, dae to foreign honjce The Viceroy did not carefully diserimmate and examine, but gave credence to the deoeitfal petition of the two Taotais Tesi and Chou abore-mentioned, and based the requests of his memorial thereon.
This Assembly thereupon discussed the question and addressed to him in-
The Viceroy's rescript received in reply merely set forth the statements enatained in the Jdeceitfal petition of the two Tantaia, Trai and Chaa: and farther, enti evaded and passed on to his subordi ates his responsibility. for compliance mith the Imperial command, which was included in the Imperial approval, "Carefally to geard against abases" and moreover, disregarded and would not idisones the question of precautionary methods in adjustment after the event his answers were not what was inquired and when the Assembly continued its interrogations even to the impending clove of the period of its session, he Ithroozhout gave no farther rescript in reply. merely looking upon the first reply, it already gives ample evidence that the Viceroy did in trath consent to borrow monies in order to repay commercial debts. Setting aside the obvious disregard of the Imperial command that he should give directions to subordinates carefully to geard against abuses, it is quite clear that the Treaties settled between China and the Powers all contain words to the effect that if Chinese fail owing monies to foreigners, the officials can only proas them for their repayment, bat cannot igoarantee to refand. This was a special Imperial pronouncement of long-standing which should be observed as law by the officials of this country. Moreover, the Viceroy in his person bears the responsible rank of Southern Commissioner of Trade, and especially has the extraordinary responsi management of Sino-foreiga abordinate officers, and has deceptive memorial to the and moreover the earnest directions in warniox which the Imperial rescript set forth, and which should have been complied with, he merely passed on to his subordinates, as if he himself had nought to do with them thas bringing no mean prejudice upon the progress of foreiga intercourse and augmenting the straitened and afflicted condition of the public Ginances, This in truth is no common or ordinary disregard of law each as merely to affect joteroal administration. It is far graver bruit enclosed herewith the prohibitions of the past from the Throne.cainst repayment by officials of foreign debts and the various articles of the Treaties between this country and the Powers bearing apon the point; together with the repeated inquiries of this Assembly addressed to the Viceroy and the Viceroy's ud we recle reply: quest consideratii action.
(2) Daring the first half of October this Assembly heard talk that the Viceroy was borrowing from foreiga merchants the sam of Tls. 3,600,000 to be repaid from Nanking, and that the Viceroy was at Sbaozhai la connexion with the matter. We first addressed to him as telezeam of inquiry in accordance with the rales of the Assembly, bat for " long while he set it side without reply; then on November 4 the Assembly decided to supplement this by an official communication to him, asking for a reply; and thereupon for the first time we received his answer in which it was stated that arrangements bad been made with the banks of ithe various nationalities to borrow a
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.