The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-07-25
WI TING-FBNG'S APPEAL.
The Chinese Minister Asks the Amer
lean People to Suspend Judgment.


Commenting on the letter from Mi.
Cor ger, Minister WI Ting-fang said this
morning:
1T is a confirmation OF the fact that the
ministers were alive at the date OF the
message. 1 ask that the American people
suspend judgment. We are a different
people than you. and have different meth
DDS Of doing things. 1t is not fair that
yo: Judge US by your standards. We are
not a nation of liars and deceivers. There
are good men and there are bad men in
China. There are such in America
Il give TO your people such information as
l have, without reserve. II you do not be-
Iieve the statements made by me. it is not
right that you should arrive at the coz
clusion that am trying to deceive you In
fair justice, you should reserve your opin-
ions until certain basis for conclusion
could be had You have 10 right TO con-
elude that it is other than a doubtful case.
and should suspend your judgment until
full Information can be received. Confu-
eius has taught that honesty is TIE best
policy It is a tenet OF my belief"
If the interview with Ii Hung Chang
is correct as reported in the morning pa
Pers, am OF the opinion that the relief
expedition from uentsin should be de-
iayed until after the foreigners have left
Pekin- The strength OF the escort neees-
saAy TO conduct them safely from Pekin
to Tientsin depends entirely on the op-
position they will meet en- route.
Tho greatest care should be taken BY
the allies to impress upon the Chinese the
fact they are not going to Pekin. should
they s;art to destroy the city and kill the
Chinese. but 10 rescue the Imprisoned min
isters- Great danger lies In the probability
thar the Chinese viii understand the first
forward move TO be one 2 warfare and
destruction Of their lives, homes, and prop
erty. Should they get such an impression I
fear they VIII redouble their Efforts and the
Imperial Government will no longer be able
to prevent the massacre Of the foreigners.
would advise that the relief force should
not set out until after the ministers have
left Pekin and then only with the distinct
announcements that they were 10 act mere
ly as an escort to the ministers"
It has been stated on urq1estionable- au-
tho-ity, one who knows the mind Of the
Chinese representative thoroughly. that
Minister WI has not at any time since the
commencement CT the Caiaese difficulties
received a single line o. aews from China
in explanation OF the coscs.ion Of affairs
Minister WI" said this authority. "ls
reported 10 have been kept thoroughly ap-
prised Of all that transpired in China md
to have been fully aware Of the massacre
Of the foreign ministers. This informa-
tion he is accused Of suppressing
Minister Wa is gentleman and an
honest man. lie would not be party to any
deceit Of this character. say it positive
Iy, that. while be represents the Caiuese
nation. he is above the duplieiJy Of which
he has been accused. From a selfish stand
point nothing is 20 be gained by delay The
truth must ultimately come out, and the
minister in the event Of his having been
shown TO have suppressed the facts would
be the object Of universal contumely. he
is perfectly aware OF the fact.
! viii tell you a secret Minister WI
has never received a single line from the
authorities in China prior to his recent
request. transmitted through other hands.
for information. and his memorial TO the
throne. In reply no news has been sent
to him The ediets Of the Emperor and the
request for mediation have been sent
through indirect channels, but he has not
received one single message from the seat
Of Government. Why has not his Coy
ernment kept him informed as 1t should /?
Becau;e Of their dense ignorance Of the
outside world. and of proper diplomatic
practice"