Evening star., 1900-07-17
THE REPORT DENIED
Chinese officials Contradict Stories
of Pekin Massacre.
MESSAGE RECEIVED BY MINISTER WI
He Places Confidence in Its
Accuracy.
SUSPENSION OF JUDGMENT

. The Chinese minister received today a tel
egram from the Viceroys Liu kun-Yi and
Chang Chih-tung, having their residences,
respectively, at Nankn and WI Chang, and
from Sheng. the director general of posts
and telegraphs at Shanghai, dated the 10th
of July, retransmitted by the Chinese min
lister in London of date of the nth of July.
The dispatch reads:
1.-The utmost efforts have been made to
protect foreign ministers, who were well
on the 18th corresponding in our calendar
to the 9th of JULY. If Tien Tsin city should
be destroyed, it would be difficult to restore
the same in one hundred years. Request
the powers to preserve 1t, as the conse-
quences would affect Chinese and foreign
ferred to north China as Viceroy of Chi
IL
The same dispatch has been sent to other
Chinese ministers.
If Mr.. Wu's cabegram of this morning is
founded on fact as he insists, it will have
a most important effect upon the campaign
in China. 1t is admitted by all officials that
there can no longer be talk of delaying the
campaign until fall on account of climatic
reasons If the ministers are still alive and
there is any possibility of relieving them
by prompt action.
Appeal in Behalf of Tien Tsin.
Minister WI received the dispatch about
IL O'Clock this morning and was greatly
pleased at this satisfactory turn of events
He at started for the Dpnart-
ment, where he remained with Secretary
Hay for some time
Besides presenting to Mr.. Hay the con-
tents of his dispatch, Minister Wu also off,
cially executed the direction for an appeal
to the powers not to destroy the walled CITY
OF Tien Tsin. So far the United States
Is concerned there has been no purpose to
Wdntoniy destroy that walled city, although
the latest news from the same scene of ac-
ton indicates that the walls themselves
have been battered down and a considerable
portion Of the city destroyed. Mr. WI
said afterward that he feared the destruc-
ton of the city was little short Of complete
Relies on the Message.
The minister expressed the most com
plete confidence in the accuracy of the mes
sage, showing that the foreign ministers
We're we'll on the 9th instant.
When a bystander expressed some doubt
on this subject, Mr. WI inquired with some
warmth: "Why is it that you believe the
exaggerated reports coming from unknown
sources, and yet you choose to doubt this
report signed by our highest officials and
containing inherent evidence Of accuracv?"
Inc minister went on to show that his
dispatch contained three distinct state
ments One of them, the appointment of
Ii Hung Chang as Viceroy of Chih-li, has
already been confirmed by the State De
partment. Moreover all three statements
bore evidence Of having originated at Pc
KIN, including That as - Ii Hung Ching
whose appointment must necessarily origi-
nate with the government at Pekin.
Lii Hung ChnnE's Appointments.
The appointment of Earl Ii as viceroy
of Chih-li is considered by Minister Wu
one of the most important developments in
the entire situation. Chih-li is the great
province in which Pekin is located and is
the very heart of the Boxer movement.
so that the great viceroy now assumes su-
preme power al the point of greatest dan
ger. Minister Wu is satisfied that if Ii
Hung Chang had been at Pekin there
would have been no such outbreak as has
occurred, as the viceroy Is a stern military
man, who believes in nipping such move
mentS in the bud.
Judgment Suspended.
II Is only Idir 10 remark that the State
Department sUSpendS judgment upon this
important message The officials are only
too ANXIOUS ,o acca,. 1, a., ,a,,,, 49,.
80, ,.o. - 49,. ,l. '"e
~ m "'' oiiie 'louuS ol uoup'
about IT, Ihe question naturally arises, as
1t has many times in the past two weeks
If the Chinese government can communi-
cate in this way with its representatives
abroad, why can II not permit the foreign
ministers represented to be under its pro-
lection also to communicate with their gov
ernments? In answer to the other uues-
tlon as TO what purpose would be served
by a mlsrepresenta'ion of facts In this fash
ION IL is pointed out that one result desired
by the Chinese would be the preservation
or lien Ts!n, and another would be the
abatement OF the popular resentment
against the Chlnese, temporarily at least.
Replaces n Halter of Foreirners
Ii Hung Chang will replace as vicerov of
the great province of Chih-li a man who boe