The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-07-23
TAKES A MORE HOPEFUL VIEW
SECRETARY OF LEGATION SAYS
TROUBLE is ABOUT OVER.
In His Opinion Americans Have
Taken Most Common sense View
of the situation.

London Tuly %. 4 a m,--chh Lun Lob
Fung. the Chinese minister in London,
took the unusual step yesterday Of paying
a Sunday call at the foreign office As
Lord Salisbury was absent. the visit was
without special result but its importance
may be gathered from an interview with
the secretary of the Chinese legation, Sir
Halliday Mccarthy. in which the legation
officials seem to have assumed at least
something like personal responsibility.
Sir Halliday admitted that communica-
tion had been partially opened with Pekin
and that messages from Sir Claude Mac
Donald, the British minister. and the 9TH
er foreign ENJOYS might be expected al
most Immediately. He said he hoped The
trouble would soon be over, since the
Chinese government was doing its utmost
to overcome the difficulties and to check
the lawless element.
In his opinion the Americans had taken
the most common sense view Of the situa-
ton, and he insisted that China ought not
be NJ sC3Ysged Against the suspicion that
Ii Hung Chang had any but a sincere
pacifcation object in view, he protested
warmly. declaring that all stories about
the perfidy and treachery of Earl Ill were
absolutely baseless."
With regard to the prospects In the
southern provinces, the secretary admit
ted that there might be small outbreaks,
but he said there would be nothing sert-
OTIS, and that Europeans would be quite
safe in treaty ports. The long silence, he
said. was undoubtedly due to the rebels.
who have cut the wires and blocked the
roads"
Thus. accorisng 20 the secretary OF the
Chinese legation, few more days should
bring a solution of the great mystery.
Nevertheless. no one in England believes
that the alleged dispatches and edicts are
anything but subterfuges 10 hide the real
situation as long as possible and to avert
retribution by sowing discord among the
powers.
| From Shanghai comes a report that the
empress dowager and the court are NOV
| ing to Sian Flu. in the province of Shan
81. to which large stores OF rice are be-
1 ing sent. and that when these arrange
ments are completed the remaining vice.
roys will declare against foreigners
According to the Chez Foo correspon-
dent of the Daily Mail. the fall of Tien
Tsin has so dsheartened the Chinese that
( they are seeking terms OF peace. He
SAYS that several attempts have been
made TO send messages to Pekin, but so
far without any known results, and adds
that rumors are again current that the
Russians are reaching Pekin from the
north. 1t is impossible 10 confirm or
deny these statements but either one
might explain Chlna's efforts To gain
time.
Ii Hung Changs visit to Shanghai
seems to be a complete failure. Except
the Chinese customs officials. no one has
visited him. Sheng. the taotai (chef
magistratel. gave the consuls a cordial
invitation to meet him at luncheon. hut
all declined.
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Express pretends 10 have authority
for the assertion that Great Britain will
repudiate any credentials Ii Hung Chang
may bring from the empress dowager
and he adds Russia. however, is Will
ing to make terms with Ii Hung Chang
whose real mission is 10 sow dissensior
among the powers. The British, German
and American Representatives were reso-
lutte against rsaeiving him"
The Shanghai correspondent OF the
, Daily MlI declares that the Chinese Of
ficials are thoroughly frightened by the
, fall OF Tien Tsin and desire to open
negotiations. Therefore, although all are
aware of the horrible Pekin massacres
, every official. down to the humblest re-
tainer. has been sworn 10 secrecy upor
, the penalty OF wholesale executions
should the details leak out They hope
II the powers once begin negotiations
, 10 stop the military operations. that mat
ters might cool down.
There Is the usual crop of Shanghs
, rumors at hand this morning. One is tina
! Prince Tuan has been abducted and tina
, the empress dswager is again suprems
Another Is that the notorious Kang "
president of the board of war, has bee
! appointed viceroy OF Canton.
The Ten Tsin correspondent Of th