The Intelligence Departments of the different countries concerned have hitherto
failed woefully as regards China. We wonder if any of them are repairing that fault by obtaining information as to what is really going on in Sian in the Imperial circle. Such information would be really valuable, and it ought to be obtainable for money. Hundreds of eunuchs, chamberlain officers of the guard, and other persons who value taels, must know pretty accurately what is occurring. At present we get nothing but rumours, rumours that the Emperor is a prisoner, rumours that the Empress is dead, rumours that the Court contemplate a further flight, rumours that Prince Tuan and his ally, General Tung, fearing for their heads, have broken out in rebellion. Any one of those rumours would, if true, have important consequences, but the Powers seem to be as much in the dark as the Chinese public, which never sticks to the same story for a week together. The drift of the rumours just now is that the reactionary party is dissatisfied or suspicious and is threatening the Empress ; and though this drift may be the result of guessing rather than information. it must not be forgotten that if the Emperor and Empress were both deposed, Prince Tuan, as father of the recognised heir, would be the legal master of China. The Daily News of Friday publishes an interview with the Rev. Evan Morgan, which is the only first-hand information we have yet received from the new capital. Mr. Morgan has some interesting things to tell about Sian, and he gives many reasons for believing that the Court will not remain there long. Unfortunately, he was compelled to leave before the crisis reached its height.
Previous page
