The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-20
CANNOT INVESTIGATE
CHINA WILL NOT LET FOREIGNERS
INQUIRE INTO OUTRAGEs.
American and British COnsuls Denied
Opportunity to Learn the Truth
-Incendiary Placards.

SHANGHAI Aug ia dispatch to the
Mercury from Foo-Chow says II Is reported
on good authority there that the Chinese
government has refused to allow the Amer
lean and British consuls. Mr.. ]. c. Hixson
and Mr.. r. 7. Mansfield, who accompanied
the commission appointed to investigate
the recent massares of missionaries and
their families at Ku-Cheng. to make any
investigation into the circumstances of the
massacre.
HONG KONG, Aug. 19.-The prefect sent
with the commission to Ku-Cheng, together
with the Chinese officials at Ku-Cheng.
have refused to allow the presence of the
consuls during the examination Of the prls-
oners. The matter has been referred to the
viceroy. Serious trouble is feared.
LONDON, Aug. 2O-The Times has a dis
patch from Hong Kong confirming the
Shanghai dispatch containing the report
that the Chinese government has refused
to allow the American and British consuls
to make any investigation into the Ku-
Cheng massacre. The Times dispatch adds
that soldiers are engaged in plundering the
people, who feel that the foreigners are the
cause Of their suffering, and that therefore
the latter should be destroyed. Further in
cendiary placards have been posted at Can
ton.
No Suspicion at Washington.
WASHINGTON, Aug. l9.-The officials OF
the Chinese legation have no information
throwing any light on the reported refusal
of the home government to permit the
members of the mixed British and American
commission to investigate the Ku-Cheng
massacre In fact the legation has not yet
been apprised officially of the appointment
of the commission. The only explanation
given as reason for the reported refusal
is that the action reported to have beer
taken was by the Chinese local officials,
who possibly have not been informed by
the central government of the appointment
of the commission to make the investiga-
tion, the local officials acting merely on
their own inclination in the premises.
If the reported action of the Chinese be
correct it is apparently not matter of
very great surprise to the officials of the
State Department here. They attribute any
refusal of the local authorities to permit
the commission to investigate the troubles
to the well-known desires of the Chinese
to conduct such inquiries by their own peo-
pie, the dislike of having any interference
by outsiders, and to the general suspicious
ness with which they look upon foreigners
The present troubles, the oficials say, are
not dissimilar in any material respect from
others that have occurred from time to
time in the diplomatic history of the gov
ernment's interests. and a glance at the
British and American blue books will sub
stantiate this statement A somewhat SIM
liar case to the present, it is said. is found
in that of Raymond Margery. British
officer in the consular service who was
killed in the province of Yunan about fif-
teen Of sixteen years ago. In this instance
the British government demanded repara-
tion and the appointment of a commission
to make an investigation resulted. At first
there was decided objection by the local
officials to having foreigners take part In
the inquiry, but the matter was finally ad-
| justed in way APPARENTLY satisfactory to
| the British. 1t is not feared here in off,
cial circles but that any complications tha,
may have arisen in the present case will
| be adjusted and ample reparation be made
for the lives that were lost in the Ku-
| Cheng massacre