The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-25
GREAT POWER
is SUSPICIONED
OF TREACHERY.
Said to be Guilty Of Deserving Its
Friends, and Is Quietly Arrang-
ing to Make a Campaign
AGAINST THE CITY OF PEKIN.
Without the Aid Of Other Nations.
Uncle Sam Willing to Mediate,
q but Proceeding With Caution.

r,5i -.t
WASHINGTON, July 24.-The state
department Is again in waiting ntti-
tude regarding China. 1t has frankly,
promptly and fully answered the Chi
nese emperor's appeal for mediation
and the correspondence was given pub
5licity to-day and makes 1t appear that
the next move is for the Chinese gov
iernmcnt. 1t is expected to accept or
reject our terms at once, and In either
case the answer must convey tidlngs Of
the state of affairs at Pckin and the
welfares of the legationers. The belief
is not concealed here that the chances
for successful mediation are slight.
Mediation cannot be forced upon par
4 ty to q cause: 1t must be acceptable to
all the parties. II the United States is
to mediate In China's Interest she must
, first secure the consent OF all the pow
ers who have suffered in life or prop
erty at Pekin. "A
Difficulties Many and Serious.
The, difficulties In the way of such an
undertaking are likely to be many. and
serious, in view OF the exhibition OF
feeling In Europe. But It is said here
that the United States will cheerfully
undertake the task, provided Its condi-
tions are met. II 1t does not succeed in
Inducing the European powers to oe
lenient In their treatment Of the imperial
government OF China. the United States
government will not be drawn into fur
ther hostllltles after we have taken care
of our own affairs, but we will with
draw, taking care. however. to let 1t be
understood that this government will
not allow Its proper interests in China
to be injured by the action of any OF the
powers that may choose to remain OBJ
durate.
At last one Of the greatest powers Is
under strong suspicion here of acting
cold -bloodedly and without regard TO
sentiment or anything more than the
most material of considerations. 1t is
believed here that this power Is quietly
taking measures to drop out OF the
sleagne at yTten .Tsln anu Conflict q
campaign on its own account against
Pckin and It Is even suspected that this
power Is already moving troops toward
the Chinese capital.
=
Opposed to International Advance.
One fact regarded as now beyond
need OF further demonstration In view
OF the Chinese appeal. Is that the Chi
nese officials at the coast ports are act
ually In communication with whatever
remains of the imperial government at
Pekin and the text Of Kwang Su's ap-
peal appears to establish the fact that
the Chinese government itself Is sane
tlonlng the resistance to the lnterMn-
tlonal advance upon Pekln.
The state department and the Chinese
legation substantially agreed In the
estimate Of six to eight days as the
time necessary to get reply TO the
Presidents answer 10 the appeal of the
Chinese government. According to the
best Information here. urgent messenger
are being transmitted between Pekin
and Shanghai by the "Tlying Express"
mentioned in Consul Fowler's cable
gram n few days ago. This. according to
the Chinese. Is relay system of mount
ed messengers similar to the old pony
service across the plains. and Is used
when the wire communication is inter-
rupted. The relay riders make about
200 miles u day.
Will Get Definite News Soon.
It Is 400 miles from Shanghai to Pekln
and this seems to agree very we'll with
the speed made in forwarding and re-
turning the Conger message. Assum-
Ing from Sheng's dispatch that u move
mcnt was on foot on the 18th to get the
foreign ministers started from Pekin to
Tlcn TsIn under escort OF imperial
troops. the state department would not
be surprised to get definite news OF
theIh from the neadQGartefS Oh the al
lied forces In n short time. The dis
tance from Tien Tsin to Pekin is seven
ty-five miles and Mt this season the trip
is usually made by road from Pekln TO
Tong Choo. point on the Pei-Ho,
twelve miles below the capital and the
remainder of the way by boat. This
trip now would take four days. suppos-
ins the escort OF imperial troops mot
with no resistance from the Insurgents.
If the move from Pekln was made with
In two days uftar Shcng's information
was received It would be possible that
the legatloncrs and their escort are now
In touch with the headquarters OF allies,
always supposng that nothing serious