The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-18
MINISTER WIS MESSAGE.

MINISTER WIS MESSAGE.
Hope That Foreigners In Pekinx
Are Alive Revived.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE Chinese
minister has received dispatch from the
minister at London, authenticated by
Sheng, the imperial Inspector of posts
and telegraphs at Shanghai, and by two
viceroys, declaring that the foreigners in
Picking were safe on July 9, and were re-
cetving the protection of the government.
This is two days after the reported mas
sacre. Minister WI has laid the message
before Secretary Hay.
The text of the dispatch received by
Minister WI this morning, laid by him
before Secretary Hay, is as follows:
1.-THE utmost efforts have been made to
protect foreign ministers who were well
on the 18th Chinese calendar CORE
spending to our July 81. If Tien Tsin
city should be destroyed 1t would be diff
ficult to restore the same in 100 years.
Request the powers to preserve it, as the
consequences would affect Chinese and
foreign commerce. Earl Ii Hung Chang
is transferred to North China as viceroy
to Chi Ii. Please transmitgthis dispatch
to the ministers at other capitals"
This dispatch, which is dated July Is,
was signed by Viceroys Liu Kung vi and
Chang Chin Tung, of Nankin, and WI
Chang, respectively, and also by Sheng,
director of posts and telegraphs at Shang-
hal. 1t was addressed to the Chinese
minister in London, and by him trans
mitted to Minister WI. under today's
date -
In accordance with the request con-
tanned in the cablegran. Mr.. WI asked
Secretary Hay to agree, with the other
struction. The secretary's1 answer was
not made public, but Mr.. WI fears that
the destruction already has occurred.
He regards the cablegram as perfectly
authentic.
The state department has bulletined the
following:
1.-The secretary of state has received a
dispatch from Consul McWade, at Can
ton, informing him that the Viceroy, Ii
Hung Chang, sailed today for Hong Kong.
He received an edict last night. appoint
ing him vicerov a Chi Ii, and comma nj
ing his immediate presence there. Fears
are entertained at Canton that his alb
sence may give occasion for disturbance
of the peace. French gunboats have ar
rived in Canton.
WI GREATLY PLEASED.
Minister WI received ~-Il6 QlSpdtcn
about II o'clock this morning, and was
greatly pleased at the satisfactory turn
of events. He started at once for the
state department, where he remained with
Secretary Hay for some time. Beside
presenting to Mr.. Hay the contents of his
dispatch Minister WI also conveyed the
appeal to the powers MOTTO destroy the
walled city of Tien Tsin. AS far as the
United States is concerned, there is no
intention to wantonly destroy the walled
city, though the latest news from the
scene indicates that the walls had been
battered down and a considerable por-
ton of the city destroyed.
Minister WI said he feared the de-
struction Of the city was little short OF
complete He expressed the most COM
plete confidence in the reports showing
the the foreign ministers were in touch
with the situation. When some doubt
was expressed as to the correctness OF
Chinese reports Minister WI replied
with warmth:
"How is ii you believe exaggerated re-
ports coming from unknown sources, and
you choose to distrust this report, COM
ing signed by our postal officials, and tc
question It's accuracy?PF &
The minister went on to show that this
dispatch contained three distinct state
ments. One OF them, the appointment Of
Ii Hung Chang, as viceroy of Chi Ii
had been confirmed already by the state
department. Moreover. he said all three
statements bore evidence ofnhaving orig
mated at Picking, including that as TO l.
Hung Chang, whose appointment neces-
sarily must originate WITH the govern
ment at Picking. )E
IMPORTANCE oEtS IT.
The appointment of Earl Ii as viceroJ
of Chi Lii is considered by Minister WI
as one of the most important develop
ments in the entire situation. Chi LII Is
the great province in which Picking L
located, and is the very heart Of the
Boxer movement, so that the great vice
roy now assumes supreme power at, the
point of greatest danger. Minister WI
is satisfied that if Ii Hung Chang hat
been at Picking there would have been M
such outbreak as had occurred, as th'
viceroy is a stern military man and riglC
discipIinarian.
No one at the state department would
say they did not regard Wu's message
as accurate, though there are man!
clouds about it. 1t is regarded a.
strange, If the Chinese government cal
communicate with it's own minister
abroad, why it cannot permit the for
eign governments to communicate witt
their representatives. It is pointed gu
that one result desired by the Chimes
would be the preservation of T1en Ts1n
and another would be the abatement o
popular resentment against Chinese, TEN
porarily at least.
Lii Hung Chang will replace as yicero!
of the great province of Chi LII mar
who has been VIGOROUSLY anti-foreign II
his sentiments and actions. The sum
mons to Ii is regarded as hopeful sign
1t could have been inspired by two mo
tives-first, the great Viceroy may nav
been called to Picking by the 1mperta
government in order that 1T might avail
itself Of his wisdom and experience will
foreigners to eXtricate it from the pres
ent position. The second. motive, ant
one not so promising for speedy settle
ment of the trouble, is that old Ii ha
been called upon to establish communi
cations with the foreign commanders an(
diplomatic representatives with the de
liberate purpose of sowing dissensiol
among them and paraYzing all efforts a
joint action. The officials here are per
fectly satisfied that any such move a.
this would come to naughtsr being thor
oughly sure now that no matter VIVA
doubt may have been entertained at ont
stage, each and everyone of the grea
powers represented insthe field will ad
here to it's pledges. This is true as tt
Russia, as well as to the other powers
according to the best authority.
REPORT CONFIRMED.
Confirmation of the transfer of Ii Hung
Chang to the north came to the state
department not only from Minister WI
but in cablegram from Consul Genera
Goodnow, at Shanghai 1t was stated
that Ii Hung Chang had started from
Canton on his way to Picking. 1t is ex-
pected that he will land at Taku, or al
Shan Hal Kwan, port on the Gulf OF
Pc Chi Ii, connected by a good road witt