Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-15
LII HUNG CHANG INTERVIEWED
Aged chinese Diplomat Talks Free
ly OF HIS Mission.

Copyright, 1900, by Associated Press.)
F Shanghai, Wednesday, Sept Iii
Hung Chang informed a representative
of the Associated Press today that he
will start for Tien Tsin Friday, Sep
tember IA; that he will go to PekinJ
if circumstances demand IT., and that
Prince Chins and he had full authority
from the dowager empress and emperor
to negotiate settlement with the pow
ers. explaining that there We're no other
commissioners for China.
The audience lasted an hour, the COR
respondent being the interviewed rather
than the interviewer. Ii asked many
questions about the fighting at Tiens
Tsin. the relief of Pekin. the number
of troops Of each power in China, their
ldisposition and fighting qualities Of the
Chinese, how Pekin was defended, and
what bodies of Chinese fought best. He
expressed regret at the privations of
4 the women and children in Pekin.
4 During the interview, Ii Hung Chang
asked the correspondent IL Ministers
4 Conger and Macdonald appeared to
i lhave suffered much, and when told that
Mr.. Conger had lost seventy pounds he
laughed merrily and remarked that tn =
gIwas a poor recommendation for horse
flesh,
Il Ii Hung Chang also inquired wheth-
Ter the correspondent had seen much
3I5abuse of the Chinese or any ravishing
or killing of women and children, and
when told that the abuses We're prac-
Il tically confined to the Russians, he said
this was doubtless due to lack Of dis
cipline.' and turned to the subject OF
looting. being anxious to know how
$k,<,
y Ihad obtained. When Informed that the
q japanese were reported to have taken
a so, ,OOO 600 taels from the revenue officers
( at Pekin Ii Hung Chang said: The
Iumor must have added two ciphers tc
& the real amount
Thruout the interview, Lii Hung Cnane
4 appeared to be in fire spirits, and talked
n as one removed, by reason of his age
!. and experience. from the field Of con.
j, troversy.
He regretted all the recent troubles
! and said he had no desire except t.
: smooth them over impartially."
f AT another stage of the interview L
], Hung Chang said he deplored the fac
;8lthat the newspapers were prejudiceC
II against him and asserted that this Op
i slposition originated with the Englisl
= Ipress Of Shanghai. which influenced tn,
4 ipapers Of the world
u The correspondent remarked that th
{ Americans had never been prejudicet
Iagainst him. whereupon Ii Hung Chani
81 quickly demanded: Why don't the!
I: accept me as negotiator?'
ri Questions put to LII concerning TIL
o settlement which the Chinese govern
Z ment wanted to make were diplomatic
: ally parried. He said: China has It
a Views as to what settlement is desira
e BILE and the powers have their views
d We will meet and negotiate"
e Asked whether he expected demand
for the cession OF territory as indemni
d |ty Iii Hung Chang replied: II am i
& communication with some Of the gov
n ernmerts. have found they have n
h htdisposition to ask for land.
g The correspondent said: There
/, great curiosity abroad to hear an ex
e Iplanation OF the contradictory edicts is
y sued in the name of the dowager esn
e press during the siege"
d Lii Hung Chang meditated q momer
d and then. speaking deliberately. said
4 ssThe empress at the beginning wa
Z. badly advised She was told the Boz
u ers had supernatural powers. that the
I lcoul6 not - ilA1iAd azld we're able \
-lf-4