The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-27

members Of the legations were alivs
July 9th.
When the foreign office was told this
the rejoinder was made Mr.. Morgan
has submitted no evidence TO convinc<
us of the truth of his statement. how
ever, anxious We may be to beheve it.
Consultations are in progress be
tween cabinet ministers and Officials
as to the course to be pursued should
the ministers prove to be alive. The
contingency of China holding them a.
hostages is uppermost in the minds OF
all. although the Associated Press cor
respondent is officially informed that
the Chinese diplomats have not YET
limited at such action.
TO BE NO TERRITORIAL ACQUISI-
TON.
Negotiations between the powers
have brought out mutual assurances
that the military expeditions to China
are for the sole purpose Of relieving
the legations and that there is no inten
ton to partition China. Hence should
China agree to deliver the ministers
alive, no power will LAY a reason for
continuing aggressive military opera
tons, except Germany, whose minister
is undoubtedly dead. and even Ger
many, to quote a nigh British official,
will have to forego the emperor's as
sertion that lie would not stop till the
German flag fioated over Pekin."
AS for the other powers, it is en-
phatically stated that they have
imously agreed that with the safe de-
livery of the ministers, the aggressive
campaign will end. All rumors of an
international agreement regarding the
future of China subsequent to the re-
turn of the ministers are false. The
agreement is purely negative and
based upon the lines stated by Secre-
tary Hay of which the independence
n integrity of the Chinese empire
are essential features. If the imperial
edict proves true, the powers while
holding their forces in readiness to en-
force demands, will accept pecuniary
indemnity. e No territorial propositions
will be received. In common with the
other powers Germany must, through
arbitration or otherwise, gauge the
damages for the loss of the life Of her
minister by a pecuniary standard. The
same rule will apply to the loss of
other lives and destruction of property.
TO USE THE MINISTER'S AS HOS
TAGES.
1t may with safety be stated that
should several ministers prove to be
alive, the Chinese government will, to
some extent, use them as a lever to
compel European and American mis-
SiOnarieS n commercial enterprises
to moderate their activity, if not to
withdraw from the empire entirely.
On this point, William Pritchard
Morgan, who is in close touch with the
Chinese minister, said to the AsSo-
ciated Press correspondent, that he
had good reason to believe the Chinese
government had entrusted or would
entrust Ii Hung Chang with the mis-
sion of saying to the powers:
Look here; if you withdraw your
missionaries n give up your conces-
sions, we will be willing to give ample
pecuniary remuneration for your losses.
We will then deliver you ministers,
except Germany's alive. Well, if you
don't agree We can't be answerable for
the lives of your ministers. We cannot
reconcile the majority of our people to
the foreign element"
And who" said Mr.. Morgan, Twill
have hardihood enough to say to
China: Go ahead, kill the ministers,
and we will take revenge"
THE FRENCH MINISTER ALIVE.
Paris, July %, 1890 a. nm. del
Case, of foreign affairs, has received
a telegram from the French consul at
Shanghai, dated July 23rd, which says:
Lii Hung Chang a just assured
me that NJ. Pichon (French minister
to China) is living and he has agreed
to transmit to him a message from me
requesting a reply within five days"