The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-06-28
POWERS NO LONGER ARE
REPRESENTED in PEKIN.


ard has taken measures for their pro'ec-
tio- in transit then II has not violated IN
ternational law. II the imperial troops
without the consent Of the GoVefhmeh'
have Joined in the operations against the
| allied forces then they are merely de
| seriers. and 4 state OF war does iot nrces-
sarily follow. There stiil remains the ques-
tion as TO whether the acts OF the Chirsse
Government in respect to the legations con-
stitute an insult 10 the foreign GoV"rn-
ments. II So they would have the riSst 10
resent the insult The facts. far a.
known. do not require a declaration OF
war"
Minister Wu expressed confidence tha; H..
Government does not want war.
The dispatch | received from the Tsung
Ii Gam"n shows conclusively. he said.
that my Government does not want war /
have believed from the first that the foreign
Ministers Were safe under adequate protec-
tion furnished by the Tsung Ii Yamen. The
condition of affairs in China must be abhor-
rent to my Government. OF this am conf
dent | can assure the public. Ii Hung
Chang. in his dispatch to me, said that the
Chinese Government is not responsible for
what has occurred. and other Niceroys have
confirmed his statement.
Il do not believe the reports that Prince
Tuan is leading the army. What can he
gain by doing 80? China understands she
cannot fight the whole world. ! am sure
when all the facts are known the situation
viii look very different than IL does to-day.
Those 1000 Russians.
Administration officials have not forgotten
that though Vice Admiral Seymour's column
is close to Tien-Tsin. column of 1000 Rus
slams left New-Ct wang for Pekin and prob
ably has reached its destination by now.
The possibility that Russians may be in the
capital probably will make Great Britain
and Japan anxious TO get their troops there
and II is the expectation Of the officials that
no time will be lost by the allies In taking
up the march to Pekin. There is NOT now
the pressing need for haste that there was
before the legations We're in danger. but II
Is pointed out that there are Americans
throughout China to whom the Chinese
Government must accord protection. Under
Article NNIX of the treaty OF 1865 with
China. IL is provided that Hereafter those
who quietly profess and teach these Chris
tian) doctrines shall not be prosecuted or
harassed on account OF their faith. Any
person. whether citizen of the United States
or Chinese convert, who shall peaceably
teach and practice the principles of Chris
tianity shall in no case he interfered with
or moleSted.
A provision In the treaty between China
and France gives the latter Government
authority to protect all Roman Catholic
missions. and this provision has been
stretched to cover Catholic converts. In any
procedure that will he taken. therefore, .he
native CHRISTIANS VIII De Consllered.
Ambassador Cambon, the French repre-
sentative here. called by appointment on
the President to-day, and incidentally dis
cussed with the chief executive the situa-
tion in China. The President made IL plain
that this Government recognizes that
France is acting in all good faith to pro-
mote harmony Of action on the part of the
Powers.
II is known here that there is an active
exchange of notes in progress relative ;o
the ability Of the Niceroys of the Provinc> >
in the Yang-tsekiang TO protect foreign
ers within their jurisdiction. Minister WI
has asked Secretary Hay to instruct the
American Consuis in this region to conf "
with the Niceroys who certain of their
ability to protect foreign life. and property
and who are willing to give a written guar
sntse TO this effect. This Government has
approached other Powers on the subject
and 1t Is understood that no troops will he
sent into this region so long as the Vice
roys are able to protect foreigners.
MAY he HELD AS HOSTAGES.
| Washington. June I'm well-informed
diplomatic circles here the news that the
foreign Ministers have left Pekin for the
North under a Chinese escort Is egirded
with some prehension. II Is presumed,
of course II the report is true that the
escort is composed CT imperial troops but
feeling of unrest Is induced by the evident
fact that under the present circumstances
the Imperial troops are not absolutely TO
be trusted Indications are abundant that
they. too. are imbued with the anti-foregn
sentiment which has found its open ex-
ponent In the Boxers.
While no fear is expressed that the per-
sonal safety of the diplomatic epresenta-
tives of foreign Governments is eniang-
cred the intirnation is conveyed that they
may be held as hostages. If this should be
true the troops accompanying them would
be rather guard than an escort. II is
pointed out that in 1860, in circumstances
quite similar to those which obtain at
present. the French Minister was taken
north from Pelin under escort" He Vas
actually held as a hostage