The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-22

hung Chang. 1t may be mentioned, how
ever, that all communications received
from Peking, at two points. pass through
the same channel. At Shanghai, Sheng re-
ceives everything; in Washington. Mr.. wu
is the medium. The point of this is that
the messages received to-day are deprived
OF a great deal Of their corroborative
value. Notwithstanding this fact our gov-
ernment is proceeding on the presumption
that these communications are authentic
1t has not been influenced in this attitude
by European criticism, but, convinced IL
had everything TO gain and nothing to lose
by reposing confidence in the Chinese min
ister here, the State Department has felt
1t to be not only good policy, but a duty
TO make use of the friendly diposition of
the pro-foreign Chinese officials to alleviate
the condition of the legationers, If they are
still alive. 1t certainly has lost nothing by
acting on this plan. for, so far from abat-
Ing the execution of its military programme,
the government has sought TO infuse addi-
tional energy into the commanders of its
forces in China, as was exhibited in Secre-
tary Longs cablegram yesterday to Ad-
miral Remey. Therefore, the Shanghai re-
port that Ii Hung Chang is to be de-
tanned and prevented from going to Peking
is received here with forebodings of evil
1t cannot be conceived how Ii could ma
terially add to the Boxers strength, even
Ii he were so disposed, by going to Peking
On the other hand, it cannot be doubted
that to interfere forcibly with his freedom
of movement would precipitate crisis in
the southern provinces of China and GER
tainly would prevent him from doing any
thing for the foreign ministers. If he is act
ing in good faith. Feeling that the powers
themselves are now willing to admit the
error made by their naval commanders i'm
not following Admiral Kempff's advice at
Taku, the officials here deprecate the adop-
ton by any of the powers Of further meas
ures in the same wrong direction. Possibly
this subject may form the basis of some
rapid diplomatic exchanges.
Beside Mr.. WI, who came with his two
cable messages, Secretary Hay this morn
ing saw Senator Burrows and succeeded in
converting that senator in a half hours
talk from a pessimist into an optimist re-
garding the Chinese situation. The senator
frankly stated that he had all along felt
that the legationers had been killed, but
and being protected by the Chinese Of
ficials
General Leonard Wood also saw Secre-
tary Hay. He is deeply concerned over the
fate of Miss Mary Condit Smith. his sister,
in-law. who was in the United States lega-
ton in Peking. but he also is now disposed
to believe that she has been saved with the
others.
The secretary of state tonight received
from the Chinese minister lengthy writ
ten communication. The contents of the
document were not made known, but ii is
understood that it did not contain further
cable news concerning the situation at Pc
king, but was rather in the nature of a
diplomatic communication which the min
lister desired. to have reach the President
In view of the cable reports of the trans
mission of an edict relating to the. sup
preston of the disorder it was conjectured
in some quarters that q copy of this edict
has been formally transmitted here There
is reason to believe also that after Min
lister Wus communication to Secretary
Hay he received additional dispatches, but
from the fact that they were not trans
mitted to Secretary Hay tonight it is pre-
sumed that they were relatively unim-
portant.