The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-12

washington October 9.-The bin
meeting today, which occupied about
TWO and a half hours, was devoted al
exclusively to a discussion of the
chinese situation Special considera-
ton was given to the French note, and
1T is understood that a more or less
dennfte conclusion was reached as to
the nature of the reply which will be
made by this government, but it has
no been put in diplomatic form. Its
purpOrt will not be made public for
the present.
1t developed today that Minister
Conger, in compliance with a sugges-
ton from Secretary Hay, had SUBJ
mitted to the state department a list
of ten or twelve names of Chinese Off
Gals who were prominent in the Boxer
movement against the foreigners and
in a great measure were responsible
for the assaults upon the legations in
Pekin. These officials, Mr.. Conger be
lieves, should be included with Prince
Tuan and others in any punfshments
which are to be inflicted upon those
who took a prominent part in the Pc
kin ouUrages. 1t is not unlikely that
the position of this government in re-
gard TO the punishment of these Off
Gals will be stated in reply to the
French note.
General Chaffee continues to execute
the programme for the withdrawal of
the military forces already outlined,
and he has notified the war depart
ment nat he will have all of his men
except the legation guard out of Chi
ma inside, of a fortnight.
The American troops Will take no
further part in any military operations
in China, unless they are attacked,
which is not believed to be probable.
The officials do not credit the Russian
admiral's report that they participated
in the taking of Shan Kai-Kwan, as
the sense of General Chaffee'S orders
was !irectly contrary to such partici-
patton.
THE DOWAGBR EMPRESS LII
Pekin, October Z, via Tien Tsin, De-
tober s and Shanghai, October -
Trustworthy Chinese reports say that
the dowager empress is seriously i'll
at Tai Yuan Flu province of Shan Si,)
and the free hand of the emperor in
affairs of state of late is regarded as
c~onfirmatory of these reports.
THE PUNISHMENTS TO BE IN
FUTCTED.
a response TO the German demand
has been TRANSMITTED to Lii Hung
Chang. This says that Ying Men,
president of the cenSOrate; Yang vi,
assistant grand secretary and presi-
dent of the civil board, and Chao n
ChiaO, president of the board of pun
wtshment, will be decapitated; that
Prince Chwang. Duke TSai Ian and
prince Yin will be sentenced to life i'm
prisOnment, and that Prince Tuan
will be baniShed to the imperial mill
t9rv most roads on rthp Siberian from
tier, as a further punishment for aid
ing the Boxers.
THE EMPEROR TO RETURN TO
PEKTN.
Pekin. October 6.-Prince Ching has
received an edict from the emperor,
dated October LIST in reply to a note
sent at the request of the legations,
saying he will return to Pekin as soon
as the negotiations take a favorable
turn.
Washington, October 9.-The Chinese
minister aid today that if the powers
regarded it as essential that the en-
peror and empress dowager should re-
turn to Pekin, he was quite confident
this could be brought about. first by
giving positive assurances for the per
SonaI safety of their majestles, and
then, as plain evidence of this assur-
ance. directing hat the bulk OF the al
lied forces now at Pekin be Withdrawn
to Tfen Tsin, Yang Tsun, or some 9TH
er point, leaving only a few hundred
troops at Pekin as a guard.
FRENCH NEWS MORE ENCOUR-
AGING.
Paris. October 9.-It is Semi-officiaf
ly announced today that the news re-
ceived here from China is now more
r~eassuring than the English despatch
es make out; that ar agreement be-
tween the powers will be arrived al
on the basis of NJ. del Cases note
that the reported arrival of LiHune
Chang at Pekin has been conhrmec
and that confirmation has also beer
received OF the degradation of Prince
Tuan.
Fr7rce has no. yet received thC
formal reply of my power, but the
verbal statements made by the various
ambassadors on the presentation OF tn
note has led the government to believe
il will be accepted everywhere eXcep
in Great Britain and the United states
These powers agree to certain feature:
while Objecting to others, but, 10 no
take a stand which is inimical, gen
orally. to the propositions of NJ. de
Case.
AGREEMENT BETWEEN RUSSLl
AND GERMANY.
Rerlfn. October 9.-The Post says al
arreement exists between German.
aod Russia. by which Germany is I
control the railroad from Pekin t
Yang Tsun and Russia is to contro
fine road from Yang Tsun to Long Ku
THE GERMAN TROOPS TARDY.
Pekin. Thursday, october 4.1Th
Pao Ting Flu expedition is waiting 10
the Germans who are not ready e
start II is reported that there are II,
600 Chinese imperial troops at Pa
TING Flu. General Chaffee has return
ed here.
Lehfgh Valley Train crews TO oeI