The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-21
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that to interfere forcibIy with his free
dom of movement would precipitate a
crisis in the southern provinces OF China
and certainly would prevent him from
doing anything for the foreign minis
tiers, if he is acting in good faith Feel
ing that the powers themselves are now
willing to admit the error made by their
naval commanders in not following Ad-
miral Kempff's advice at Taku, the Of
ficials here deprecate the adoption by
any of the powers of further measures
in the same wrong direction POSSIBLY
this subject may form the basis OF some
rapid diplomatic exchanges
Beside Mr.. WI, who came with his
two cable MESA ges, Secretary Hay saw
this morning Senator Burrows and sue
ceeded in converting that senator IN
half hours talk from a pessimistic view
regarding the situation. 1t is frankly
stated that he had all along felt that the
legationers had been killed, but he was
now satisfied that they were alive and
being protected by the Chinese officials.
General Leonard Wood also saw Sec
rotary Hay.
He is deeply concerned over the fate
of Missionary Condit Smith, his son-in-
law, who, with his wife. was in United
States legation in Pekin, but he is now
also disposed to believe that they have
been saved with the others.
There have been no fresh orders to the
troops, and in fact there is nothing new
in the military naval situation, save
the brief casualty list from Admiral
Remey.
HOW 1T NIGHT BE DONE.
New York, July 21.-A dispatch to the
Tribune from London, says:
Mr.. Conger'S message to the state de-
partment came like a voice from tomb
and startled Europe.
One of the best informed men of the
veteran military service said that he ac
cepted the text of Mr.. COnger's message
as full and satisfactory proof that the
ministers were alive. When asked how
he la he mr. ted
of the Enclosure protected by a paliSade
of moderate height, he asserted that the
military guards had probably seized
commanding position on the great wall,
where they had held the mobs at bay
He also was confident that the minis
ters and the women had been trans
ferred by a secret passage under the
wall into the imperial city and had been
hidden in the palace. Another veteran
of the consular service in China inform
ed me that while he could not account
for the American minister's reputed
message, he could not comprehend how
it had been. possible for so weak and in
defensible a position as the British en-
bassy inclOsure to be held for weeks
against persistent assaults of Soldiery
armed with artillery and that he was
reluctantly forced to believe that the
ministers and all refugees had persisted
MINISTER'S UNDER PROTECTION.
Paris, July 21.-Yu Keng, the Chinese
minister here, today handed to the min
lister of foreign affairs NJ Delcasse, an
imperial edict, dated July 49, giving the
assurance that all the foreign ministers
in Pekin except Baron Won Ketteler, the
the German minister, were then safe
and sound, under the protection Of the
imperial court.
At the council of ministers today the
minister of foreign affairs, M. Delcasse.
read telegram from the emperor of
China, asking the mediation of France
signed by Kwang Su, and not by Pub
Chan, the son of Prince Tuan. The reply
given by M Delcasse was that the re-
quest would be considered only upon alb
solute knowledge that the following acts
had been accomplished:
F'irst-That if efficaciouS protection
and absolute freedom of communication
had been assured between the French
minister at Pekin and his colleagues of
the diplomatic corps, and their re-
spective governments.
Second-When Prince Tuan and the
high functionaries responsible for the
actual events had been dismissed the
government to await inevitable punish
ment.
Third-When the authorities and
bodies of troops throughout the entire
empire shall have received an order to
cease hostilities against foreigners
F'Ourth-When. measures have been
taken for the rigorous repression of the
boxers.
NJ Delcasse notified the cabinet that
all the powers had responded favorably
to the proposition to prevent the ex-
portation of arms to China.
CHINESE ALL GONE.
London, July 21.-The admiralty this
afternoon received the Following tele-
gram from Admiral Seymour:
''Tien Tsin and neighborhood entirely
evacuated by Chinese
BRITONS NOT TO BE DECEIVED.
London, July 21.-Sir Chin hen-Leh-
Feng-Loh, the Chinese minister to
Great Britain. visited the foreign office
this afternoon and communicated what
purported to be an imperial edict Civ
inc n =-111 lT7ao 20 hi T11lx oil &L1
foreign ministers at Pekin, except
Baron Won Kettler, were safe and
sound, and under the protection of the
imperial court. The Chinese minister
did not see the British minister of af-
fairs, Lord Salisbury. The alleged e6ict
was received without comment The
correspondent of the Associated Press
has the highest authority for saving
tached by the British government to
this latest statement and that the gov
eminent is also quite unable to under
stand the credence which is accorded at
Washington to Minister Conger's mes
sage to the state department there.
Lord Salisbury, according to this au-
thority is convinced of the truth of the
original reports of the massacre of for
eigners at Pexin.
A SENSIBLE REPLY.
Brussels July 21.-The charge daft
flares at the Chinese legation here this
morning received a telegram from Sir
CIlS, the GnlnoSe MIN
lister at London, saying he had just re-
ceived a telegram from the governor of
Shan Tung, transmitted by Sheng, the
administrator of telegraphS at Shang-
hal, stating that all the foreign repre-
sentatives at Pel1in were safe. This dis
patch having been communicated to the
Belgian minister of foreign affairs, M.
Paul de F'avereau, that official demand
ed that he be put in communication
with the Belgian minister at Pekin and
informed as to the situation of Belgian
refugees in that city.
LONDON STILL INCREDULOUS.