The text of the 'memorial presented to the Throne by
the Tsang Li Yamen in regard to the anti-European riots in China, is given in the Times of Thursday. It was on this memorial that the Imperial Edict which we summarised a few weeks ago was based. The passage dealing with the causes which produced the riots is specially noteworthy. " The reason is this," say the memorialists : " discharged soldiers and Secret Societies are to be found in every province along the Yangtse River. Anonymous placards are posted for the purpose of agitating and misleading the minds of the popu- lace, so as to find a favourable opportunity to create disturb- ances." The Christians are declared to be good citizens, and their right to toleration is fully admitted. The memorialists end by begging the Throne " to order the Tartar Generals, Governors-General, and Governors of every province to pro. claim to the people, warning them not to listen lightly to rumours nor to make trouble. In case anonymous placards are written and rumours are fabricated to mislead the people, stringent and severe measures should be adopted to arrest and severely punish the authors." These professions are some- times regarded as hypocritical, but we believe that they are in the main sincere. China must, of course, be made to under- stand that, come what may, the foreigners must be protected from outrage; but the European Powers should do nothing arbitrary or coercive. If they do, we may see the Manchu dynasty go under, and be face to face with a people of three hundred millions, in a state of anarchy. That will not be at all pleasant for countries like England, Russia, and France, which " march " with China.
