The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-20
CHINESE MINISTER AT WASHING TON
HAS NEWS TO THIS EFFECT
DOUBT AS TO CORRECT DATE
On Which the Cablegram Declares the
whether Before or After July eth
After Desperate Fighting at Great
Los the Allies Capture Chinese Tien
Tsin-More Hopeful Views at Wash
ington-Meeting of Cabinet-To hush
DReinforcements.

Washington. July 1.-THE Chinese
minister has received a dispatch from
the minister at London authenticated
by Sheng, the imperial inspector OF
posts and telegraphs at Shanghai. and
by two viceroys, declaring that the
foreigners in Pekin were safe on July
9th, and were receiving the protection
of the government. This is w days
after the reported massacre Minister
WI laid the message before Secretary
Hay. The text of the dispatch is as
follows:
The utmost efforts ave cen made
to protect foreign ministers who were
well on the 18th, Chinese calendar,
corresponding to our July 9Th. If the
Tien Tsin city should be destroyed It
would be difficult to restore the same
in 100 years. Request the powers TO
preserve it as the consequences woui
effect Chinese and foreign commerce.
Earl Ii Hung Chang is transferred 10
North China as viceroy to Chi Ii.
Please transmit this dispatch to the
ministers at other capitals"
This dispatch, which is dated July
10th, was signed by Viceroys Liu Kun
u and Chang Chin Tung, of Marking
End WI Chars, respectively, AMI also
by Sheng, director or posts AMI tele-
graphs at Shanghai. 1t vas addressed
to the Chinese minister in London and
by him transmitted to Minister WI
under to-day's date.
In accordance with the request con-
tanned in the cablegram Minister WI
asked Secretary Hay to agree with the
other powers to preserve Tien TSin
from destruction. The secretary'S an
swer was not mad public, but Minis
ter WI fears that the destruction has
already occurred. He regards the
telegram as perfectly authentic.
MINISTER WI CONFIDENT OF AC.
CURACY OF THE DISPATCH.
Minister WI received the dispatch
about IL O'Clock this morning, and was
greatly pleased at this satisfactory
turn of events.
The minister expressed the mos
complete confidence in the accuracy OF
h message. When a ~bystander ex,
pressed some doubt on this subjec1
Minister WI inquired with som.
warmth: why is it you believe tht
exaggerated reports coming form un
known sources, and yet you choose t.
doubt this report, signed by our high
est officials and containing inheren
evidence Of a~ccuracy?"
The minister went on to show tina
this dispatch contained three distinc
statements, n of which, the appoint
ment of Ii Hung Chang as viceroy o
Chi Ii, had been confirmed by tn
state department. Moreover, he saiC
all three statements bore evidence O
having originated at Pekin, includin
tho DC 70 tt H,nr Tbonn "hocn q ~
pointment must necessarily original
with the government at Pekin. TIL,
appointment of Earl Ii as viceroy c
Oh Ii is considered by Minister w
as n Of the most important develop
mentS in the entire situation. Chi I
is the great province in which Pekin
located and is the very heart of tn
Boxer movement, so that the grea
viceroy now assumes supreme powe
at the point of greatest danger. I
Hung Chang will replace as viceroy
the great province of Chi Ii a ma
who has beer VIGOROUSLY anti-foreig
} in his sentiments and actions.
London, July 17.-William Pritchard
Morgan, member of parliament 70
Tydval, today received by cable posi-
tive assurance from a source upo
which he relies that the British lega
ton at Pekin was still standing Jul
Sun, anu also that LII hung Chang lei
Canton this morning to take suprem
command at Pekin.
DATE OF THE DISPATCH IN
DOUBT
The foreign office informs the AssC
ciated Press that a telegram identics
with the one handed to Secretary Ha
at Washington by Minister WI Tin
= Fang has been delivered to it by tn
Chinese minister here, which was ser
by Sheng, the administrator of tele
> graphs at Shanghai. The foreign offc
= points out, however, that the dat
July 81 mentioned in the Telegram
probably applies to the Chinese caler
. dar n is equivalent to July 9Th, az
cording to the Gregorian reckoning.
: IIGA TQlN Z