The" Chun incident" at Berlin has terminated in the retreat
of the German Emperor. Prince Chun, after much telegraphing with Pekin, positively refused to allow any of his suite to perform the kow-tow, and the Emperor thereupon agreed to receive only the Prince, who, it had been admitted, could not, as membet of an Imperial house, be asked to, degrad himself. On Wednesday, therefore, the Emperor. seated on his throne in the Shells Hall of the New Pala,ce, with a steel helmet on his head and a Field-Marshal's baton in his hand;received the Prince in grand, though rather histrionic, state. The Prince, who made many bows, delivered an address and presented a letter from the Emperor of China in which his Majesty expressed his shame and remorse that a German Ambassador should have been murdered by " Boxers" daring a revolutionary move- ment. The Emperor, declared Prince Chun, disclaimed all "personal connection with the troubles, which .had brought great misfortunes upon China, and losses and anxieties upon Germany." But "in accordance with the custom of ages, he took the fullest responsibility on his own sacred person." The message is dignified,—the message of an equal who regrets an unfortunate occurrence, but in regretting avoids all expres. sions of humiliation. It is, moreover, Sincere, for the Emperor had nothing to do with the matter, and the Empress-Regent is not named. She apologises to no one, but "with red eyes' revolves her future plans.
