The following translation of a proclamation by Tuchun Li. Shun of Nanking has reached us:—
To All the Civil and Military ficial of the Province.
The main responsibility of the Tuchun and Governor of the Province is to preserve order and peace for the people and to ensure the safety of the lives of foreigners and their property. Orders to to this effect have been repeatedly sent to you to make sure that this responsibility will be regarded by you as your supreme duty.
At present, there is severe fighting around Peking, which in turn has created many—disturbing rumours all over the country. Tufei_and bandits in the province of Kiangsu are again in arms ready to start trouble in different districts. In order to ensure order and peace for all residents in the province, foreigners as well as Chinese, martial law is hereby proclaimed for the whole province. All foreign trade, the life and property of foreigners must be fully and adequately protected so that there should be no impairment of the friendly relations now existing between China and the treaty nations. If anything happens to hurt the interests of foreigners, you, the local civil and military officials, will be held strictly responsible and accountable.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.