The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-24
ACTED RATHER TARDILY,
So Far He Has Failed to Make
Report on the ku Cheng
Massacre.
DID NOT OBEY INSTRUCTIONS.
Some Ground for the Diplomats IS
Condemnation by Americans
at Shanghai.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Aug. 23.-Not
line has been received at the State Depart
ment for more than week from Charles
DENLY, United States Minister at Peking,
and there is good reason to believe that he
has procrastinated with regard to the in
structions sent him concerning the investi-
cations into the Ku Cheng massacre.
That the State Department is dissatisfied
with Mr.. Denby's dilatory course is mild
way of putting the situation, and it is said
that the Minister is in serious danger of
being recalled if he cannot furnish a salts
factory explanation of his failure to make
arrangements with the Tsung Ii Yamen or
Board of Foreign Affairs for the granting
OF full authority to the American Commits
sioners on the Ku Cheng Board of Inquiry
to freely investigate all the circumstances
relating to the massacre.
In justice to MIR. DENLY it should be said
that the State Department does not blame
him for not having secured what was de-
sired, because the matter of declination or
compliance with the departments wishes
rests with the Tsung Ii Yamen, but he has
been found wanting in not keeping the
Washington Government informed of the
progress of events, presumably neglecting
to carry out his instructions to press mat
ters.
1t is the belief at the department that
Mr.. DENLY has taken umbrage because the
suggestions from this Government as TO
the policy to be pursued by him do not
agree with his own ideas, and for that rea-
son is not doing all he has been directed to
do. Mr.. Denby's attitude is likely TO cause
him serious trouble, and if he is not heard
from soon his official position will be
placed in jeopardy.
Prior to the recent instructions to Mr.
DENLY, with reference to which he has
seemingly failed TO comply, his course was
entirely satisfactory to the State Depart
ment, and there was every reason TO be-
lieve that his condemnation by meetings
of Americans at Shanghai for alleged in
activity was exceedingly unjust in view of
his past record.
1t would be a serious matter for the
Government to recall Mr.. DENLY during
the present critical stage of our relations
with China. The presence of a Minister at
Peking is absolutely necessary.
The news contained in press dispatches
from Shanghai that Liu Ping Chang, the
degraded Viceroy of Szu-Chuan, had been
appointed Imperial High Commissioner to
investigate the outrages on the English
missionaries, has not been confirmed
officially through any dispatch received at
the State Department, but when such con-
firmation does come, the resentment of
this Government is likely to be made
known in such a manner that China will
realize how much in earnest the United
States is in bringing the Ku Cheng
massacre to a conclusion satisfactory to
this country. Liu's record, as contained
in official communications received at the
State Department during the past month,
is not calculated to impress the United
States with belief in any desire on his
part to make an impartial inquiry.