Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-07-29

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 28-Com-
ing from three separate quarters this
morning, the assurance that the for
eign ministers at Pekin were alive and
well Oh July "a, had a tendency to dis
sipate the pessimistic view which the
State Department has been taking for
the last few days as to the situation
in Pekln. 1t is true that comparison
of the various edicts and statements
bearing on this subject appear to dem
onstrate the fact that they all came
from one fountain head, either Yuan
Shih-Kl or Ii Hung Chang. But the
persistence with which these stories
of the safety of the ministers are cir
culated undoubtedly is shaking the be-
lief Of those who heretofore have been
satisfied thai all Of the ministers of
Pekin were dead. To-day assurances
came from Mr.. Fowler, the American
consul at Che Foo; from Mr.. McWade,
the American consul at Canton, and
from Minister WI, the Chinese min
lister here. The latter came to the State
Department. early expressly to deliver
an edict received by him to Secretary
Hay. 1t is similar in form to the edict
published yesterday in London. The
minister says that the only differences
are those involved in separate trans
lations. Mr. Wus translation of
Shengs dispatch is as follows:
"Edict of the sixth moon CORES
ponding to July 24) states that, FORUM
ately, all ministers, except Baron Won
Ketteler, are alive and unframed. They
are now being supplied with vegetables,
fruit and provisions by the government
to shcw its sympathy for them"
If WI Had Any Doubt
as TO the safety of the ministers, it
seems to have been dissipated by this
edict. He labored earnestly with Sec
rotary Hay to convince him that he
was bound to accept this official declar-
alton OF the Chinese government. He
pointed out that this last declaration
differed materially from most of the
other statements that have emanated
from Chinese sources in the import
ant fact that it did not represent mere
ly the belief of minor official or a
viceroy, it was the solemn declaration
of the Chinese government. In making
the statement touching the ministers
the Chinese government, therefore, as
sumed a serious responsibility TO the
world at large. He declared that it
could not be conceived that such re-
sponsibility would be lightly assumed
and therefore he (Mr. Wu) did not hes
itate TO assert his positive personal
conviction that the ministers were
alive on July "a.
When his attention was called to the
apparent failure of Yuan Shih-Kai 10
accede TO Consul FOwlers request that
the allied admirals be put into COM
munication with the ministers, Mr. WI
shrugged his shoulders in a depreca-
tory manner, and merely replied that
the Chinese were so different from
other people that the usual tests could
not be applied 10 them; 1t would not
be possible TO predict what they would
do under conditions that could be cas-
lily met by Europeans or Americans
1t was possible. he added, that Yuan
was really undertaking TO do what the
admirGls wished. only it would first be
necessary for him to consult the Pc
kin authorities. and that would take
time. He could not say when an an
swer might he expected TO his last mes
sage 10 Mr.. Conger