The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-15
FORMAL STATEMENT.
~tuati i'm China Explained i'm n
British House of Commons.

LONDON, June A-In the House of Com
mons to-day the parliamentary secretary
OF the Foreign Office, William st. John
Broderick. made a statement in regard TO
affairs in the Chinese empire. Her Males
tvs minister at Picking" said he. has been
in constant communication with the Chi
nese government since the attack by Box
ers on peaceable converts and the destruc-
ton of three villages about ninety miles
from Picking on May II. On May Is Sir
Claude Macdonald reminded the Tsung Ii
Yamen Chinese Foreign Office of his un-
ceasing warnings during the six months OF
the danger OF not taking adequate meas
ures to suppress the Boxes, and an inn
perial decree was subsequently issued. On
May 70 a meeting of the diplomatic corps
was held, at which a resolution was
unanimously adopted calling on the Tsung
Ii Yamen to take more stringent meas
ures. 1t was not then considered necessary
to bring the international Guards to
Picking. but the British marine guard at
Tien-Tsin. which had been under orders to
leave, was detained there, and two British
ships were sent to Taku. AS no specific
measures were taken by the Tsung Ii va
men. the diplomatic corps met May rs and
decided. failing the receipt of a satisfactory
reply from the Tsung Ii Yamen, TO sum-
mon guards. This course was adopted May
2s. and a British detachment of seventy
eight men, with a machine gun. was forth
with sent to Picking and 14 men were sent
to Tien-Tsin. while four more British ships
were brought to Taku.
News was then received of the murder
of Mr.. Robinson and the capture of Mr..
Norman. who was probably murdered. Sir
Claude Macdonald continued until June 5
TO urgently impress the Tsung LII Yamen
effective steps to punish the murderers and
restore order, informing them that her
Majesty's government held the Chinese
government responsible for the criminal
apathy which had brought about this dis
graceful state of affairs. These remon-
strances having no effect and the situation
both at Picking and in its neighborhood
becoming more threatening. her Ma1esty's
government on June 6 telegraphed instruc-
tons to Sir Claude Macdonald and Ad-
miral Seymour to take, in concert with the
other powers. any steps in their discretion.
which was unfettered. they might consider
advisable for the protection of the foreign
legations at Peking and British subjects
there. at Tien-Tsin or in the neighborhood
Sir Claude Macdonald. after a conference
with the Russian representative at Peking,
was empowered to support any Chinese au-
thority capable of maintaining law and or
der or any measures 10 this end, the Rus
sian minister being similarly authorized.
I'm consequence of continued depreda-
tions from the Boxers Admiral Seymour
called up three more ships. and on June 8.
after consultation with the foreign COM
manders. decided 10 land a force and march
on Picking. On June 10 he marched with
LOIS men. of which 600 were British. This
force has since been increased TO $500 men,
containing detachments from the ships of
seven of the powers The admiral had
advanced thirty miles on June IL. when he
| encountered the Boxers and killed thirty
five of them. The railway was much broken
up and only three miles were covered I'm
the next twcnty-four hours. About 90
troops are being embarked at Hong-Kong.
and the Terrible is going to Taku. The
Russians are landing an additional detach-
ment OF 100 men. Sir Claude Macdonald
reported June IL that disorders were oc-
| curing at Picking.
Mine British and twenty-five foreign
ships are now at Taku, and complete ac-
cord prevails among the powers in regard
TO the action taken by Admiral Seymour
Mr.. Broderick concluded with denying
he a the Least intention OF implying tina
Great Britain had any closer agreement
with Russia than with any OF the other
powers.
II has been learned In official quarters
! that. although II il expected the govern