After much word play he agreed to assist in appointing investigators of the various claims, but fired the parting shot as the visitors were leaving in this wise:
"When the claims are appraised, you will, of course, have to rely upon Peking for payment, if king is in a position to pay. As for me, I have no surplus funds and could not possibly settle your claims."
This is a perfect illustration of the present constitution of the Government. Peking takes all the responsibility and pays the bills, while the Tuchun assumes the authority, enjoys the local revenues and pays nothing. For a settlement of any question outside the city of Peking, diplomacy has to go to the local authorities, but when a settlement is consummated, diplomacy is cooly referred to Peking, where the inevitable plea is poverty. This and similar situations constitute a very stron: argument for the withdrawal recognition from Peking and for concentrated attention upon the local potentates when things go wrong in their realms.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.