Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-23
MACDONALD'S WORD
England Must Have 1t Ere She
Credits Chinese Statements.
PLAIN ANNOUNCEMENT IN COMMONS
Europe Expects an Early Solution
of Pekin Mystery.
PESS SIMISM NJ E E TT n G

LONDON, July 23-Though there are
some indications that hardened pessimism
is beginning to melt under the warm shower
of Chinese assurances, so that 1T Is now ad-
nitted that perhaps not all the foreign min
listers at Pekin have been killed. still in
credulity remains the dominant note of
European comment. No one seems able to
reconcile the assurances of the imperial
e6ict with Minister Conger's statement in
his alleged message to Secretary Hay that
he was in hourly expectation of death by
massacre. though both documents purport
to have been sent off from Pekin on the
same date. 1t Is confidently anticipated.
however, that the mystery will soon be
solved. as all the governments. following
the lead Of the United States Secretary Of
State. Col Hay, have taken steps to test
the sincerity of Chinese officialdom by in
sisting upon free communication with the
ministers.
Secretary BrOdrick's Statement.
In the house of commons today the par
namentary secretary Of the foreign office,
Mr.. William st. John Brodrick. communi-
Gated certain statements of the Chinese au-
thorities with regard to the safety of the
legations at Pekin. and said the Chinese
minister declared them to be unharmed.
Mr.. Brodrick read the text Of the imperial
edict Of July 1s. commenting on Minister
Conger's dispatch to the Department Of
State of the United States.
Mr. Brodrick said that though the dis
patch was Of the same date as the edicts
assurance of safety. the latter was not
borne out by Mr.. Conger- Consul Warren
had telegraphed to the governor of Shan
tung to know how a message from Pekin
reached him in two days. and why there
was no message from the British minister.
Macdonald.
replied that the United States minister's
mesa ge was sent by the tsung Ii yamen
CChinese foreign office) by a messenger
travelling roughly 200 miles day.
II assure you the governor of Shantung
had added. there is telegraphic COM
nunication. 1 cannot explain why Mac
donald has not telegraphed. but have be-
gun to be anxious about the ministers, for
they and the others are all living and un-
harmed. OF this I've already had reliable
news.
Chinese Tales Must BE Verified.
Mr. Broderick continued: Seeing that
over a month has elapsed since any infOr-
nation reached the government from the
British legation, and that the tsung Ii
yamen is communicating by messenger
with various Chinese authorities, her majes-
ty's government feel they cannot give ere
dence to any statement or decree attributed
to tn emperor or Chinese government unless
they are fortified by letters signed and dated
by Sir Claude Macdonald or other British
official or by some telegram in our own
cipher"
According to the translation read by Mr..
Brodrick, the imperial edict opens as fol-
lows:
Tn the confucian philosophy in the
spring and autumn. It is written, envoys
should not be killed. How. then, can II oe
supposed the thrones policy is to connive
at allowing troops and people to vent their
wrath on foreign minister's?
The edict then gives the assurance al
ready made known to the public.
Indian Potentate's Offer Accepted.
In the house OF commons today the secre-
tary of state for India, Lord George HamiI-
ton. announced that the Maharajah of
Gladior had offered the government fully
equipped hospital ship. upon which it is
proposed 10 spend twenty lakhs of rupees
for service in China, a mark of deep
loyalty to the queen. The offer was ac-
cepted. Lord George Hamilton also testi-
fed to the governments great appreciation
of the generosity Of those who are sending
the Maine to China
British and Chinese Meet.
ST. PETERSBURG. July 23.-Two en-
counters reported to have taken place
between British and Chinese forces near
Wei-hai-wei- The latter. il is reported were
repulsed after stubborn encounter No
dates are given.
NJ krutizkt engineer of the Eastern Chi
IeSe railway, teiegraphing from Algatchi
In the trans-Raikal territory. under date of
Friday. July -, reports the occupation of
Challar by Chinese troops The Russians
according 10 this dispatch. continue to con-
centrate al Charbin.
Seizure of the Taku.
WICHITA, Kan. July 23.-In a letter to
his mother. DR.. Pruen. a missionary In
China writing June ~ from Shanghai.
says:
Mrs Mills ian English LADY, arrived
here yesterday from Tien Tsin She tells
us that after the 1000 Russians had re-
pulsed an attack the settlement by
Chinese soldiers and Boxers. the consul or
dered all women and children to leave
Tien Tsin- The Mills family did So The
steamer in which they came down the river
reached Taku just in time for the bomba rd
ment OF the forts. the ladies had To
crouch beneath great stacks OF coal to
avoid the shells.
Presently from a few of the thirty spn-
boats they saw the British and Japanese
land marines. who rushed forward and
seized one of the forts, then the Others
fell into the hands Of Russians and Ger
mans.
still Destroying Missions.
PARIS. July 23.-According to a telegram
received here today from the French con-
sui at Tchong Ming. dated Wednesday. JULY
is, there has been no uprisings at SEE
chuen- In the country northeast of that
province, however, some missions have been