New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-07-25
MACDONALD'S LAST APPEAL.
LETTER DATED July 4-NO CHANGE
IN BRITISH SENTIMENT.
lRv The Associated Pr.ssl

| London. July 24.-The Chinese Minister Sir
| Chih Chen Lo Feng Luh. had a long inter
view with Lord Salisbury this afternoon. The
| general situation was discussed, and the Chi
! nese Minister reiterated his belief that the
| British Minister to China. Sir Claude NJ. Mac
! donald, and the other foreigners at Picking
! were safe. Lord Salisbury reiterated his de-
! mand for direct communication with the Min
! lister at Picking. To this request the Minis
| ter could only renew his protestations that II
would be speedily accomplished If feasible. He
adduced no new facts to prove his assertions.
| The interview closed without result
| Despite the Chinese Minister'S statements, and
| despite Sir Claude Macdonads letter of July 4,
! a strong impression continues to prevail at the
| Foreign Office that the Ministers at Picking were
massacred July @. 1t is stated that not one
scintilla of evidence is yet in the possession of
the Foreign Office leading them to dsbelieve the
! reports of the murders. Sir Claude NJ Macdon-
AIDS letter. with its accounts of severe fighting
in progress, merely confirms the Governments
! forebodings. William Pritchard Morgan, Mem
! Der of Parliament for Merthyr Tydvil, whose
! knowledge of affairs and interests in China is
extensive. said to-day that he positive, from
! cable messages from his agents. that the mem
bers of the legations were alive on July 8. When
! the Foreign Office was told this the rejoinder
made
! convince us of the truth of his statement, how
ever anxious may be to believe II.
! PARTITION OF CHINA NOT PLANNED
Negotiations between the Powers have brought
out mutual assurances that the military ex-
petitions to China are for the sole purpose of
relieving the legations, and that there is no in
tenton to occupy China. Hence should China
agree to deliver the Ministers alive, no Power
will have reason for continuing aggressive
( n y 10,
Minister is undoubtedly dead, and even Ger
many. to quote high British official. will have
| to forego the Emperor's assertion that he would
not stop till the German flag foated over
Peking."
AS for the other Powers. 1t Is emphatically
stated that they have unanimously agreed that
with the safe delivery Of the Ministers the ag-
gressive campaign ends. All rumors Of an in
ternational agreement regarding the future of
China subsequent to the return of the Ministers
are false. The agreement is purely negative
and based upon the lines stated by Secretary
Hay of which the independence and integrity Of
the Chinese Empire are essential features. If
the Imperial edict proves true, the Powers while
holding their forces in readiness to enforce de-
mands, will accept pecuniary indemnity No
territorial propositions will be considered In
common with the other Powers Germany must
TIN ough arbitration otherwise gauge the
by pecuniary standard. The same rule will
apply to the loss of other lives and destruc-
ton of property.
LOOKING TO THE UNITED STATES.
At the Chinese Legation it was said that no
further news from China had been received to-
day. and that it was expected that the Ministers
would soon be sent to Tien-Tsin. Secretary Lew
express unstinted praise of the attitude of
the United States Secretary of State, Colonel
Hay, and declared his implicit belief that the
Ministers were safe He said the negotiations
with the Powers on behalf of China had all been
lntlusted 70 the chinese Minister at Washing
ton, WI Ting Fang. Secretary Lew professed
utter ignorance OF their progress l'r
1t may with safety be stated that should the
ministers prQNe TO- be alive the Chinese Gov
eminent will TO- some extent use them as a
lever to compel European and American mis-
sionaries and commercial enterprises to mod
crate their activity if not to withdraw from
the empire ehtiretJe On this point William
PritChard Morgan, who is in close touch with
the Chinese Minister, said that he had good
reason to believe the Chinese Government had
the mission of saying to the Powers: IF
you withdraw your missionaries and give up
your concessions we will be willing to give
ample pecuniary remuneration for your losses
We will then deliver your Minister'S except
Germanys, alive. IF you do not agree we can
not be answerable for the lives of your Minis
ters. We cannot reconcile the majority of our
people to the foreign element - "who." said Mr.
Morgan, will have hardihood enough to say
Ministers.
will take revenge -
THE VIEWS OF MIR. MORGAN.
Mr.. Morgan added;
believe that Secretary Hay has adopted the
only right course. His action is splendid what
ever the result. I feel confident that the For
eign ENJOYS are alive. In my opinion the re-
ports of their death have been circulated with
view to overshadow in the minds of Americans
and Europeans comparatively minor outrages
which the world would be glad to forgive the
moment ii was discovered that the Ministers
were alive.
KEMPFF STANDS ON HIS DIGNITY.
THE Globes" naval correspondent at Taku
writes:
Admiral Kempn has raised a storm in a tea
cup on the salute question. He is second in
eleven gus as Rear Admiral, and this was re-
Gently him by the Endymion at Yoko-
hama He claimed thirteen guns. stating that
no American Admiral got eleven guns. their
values being: Admiral II; Vice-Admiral. Is;
Rear-Adrniral, 13 The United States having
Just started the grade OF Admiral it Is probable
Kempff thought out the regulations in pure
ignorance, as there appears TO be no reason
why a United States Rear-Admiral should be
worth more powder than any other Rear-Ad-
miral To his protest Rear-Admiral Kempff
would give him as many guns as he wanted II
there sufficient powder the ship. but
until they published their regulations " e had to
go by ours. The Orlando British armored
ship arriving at Talu, knew nothing of this
squabble and rubbed 1t in by salutng the
Chinese Rear-Admiral with thirteen guns. and
the Russian Rear Admiral with thirteen, and
then the United States Rear Admiral with
eleven guns. Whether distance made it difficult
for them to distinguish the number or delicate
hint was intended, the Newark had the good
taste to return thirteen.