New-York tribune., 1900-07-29
ENGLAND'S BLUE BOOK.
ATTITUDE OF THE POWERS SHOWN
BRITISH MINISTER'S MESSAGES.


London July 2S-A Parliamentary paper on
China was issued this afternoon. dealing with
the period from the murder of the missionary
Brooks. on January 4. to July 49, when the Chi
nese Minister at London. Sir Chih Chen Lo Feng
Luh. communicated to Lord Salisbury the I'm
perial edict. The next to the last written com
munication from the British Minister at Peking,
Sir Claude NJ. Macdonald, dated May 21 de-
cares that "the demeanOr of the inhabitants OF
Picking is quiet and civil toward foreigners, al
though from the panic among native Christians
it may be assumed the latter are being subjected
to threats of violence"
Sir Claude was convinced that few days Of
heavy rainfall TO terminate the drouth which
had helped excite the unrest OF the country dis
tricts would do TO restore tranquility than
any measures the Chinese or foreign Govern
ments could take.
The last letter from Sir Claude, dated May 2S
refers to the warning to Prince Ching that the
Ministers would summon guards unless the Gov
ernment showed greater disposition to protect
the legations.
Sir Claude admitted that he somewhat
surprised at the calmness with which Prince
Ching received the suggestion, which he said
had already been made to him. The Minister
adds:
Possibly the Government has awakened to the
strength of the Boxer movement and would be
disposed to welcome the additional security af-
forded by the presence Of foreign troops.
The contents of Sir Claude Macdonald's sub
sequent kilograms are already known.
On July Lord Salisbury informed the Vice
roys through a communication to the Chinese
Minister that they would be held personally
guilty should any injury be done to Europeans.
On July Lord Salisbury gave to the Southern
Viceroys assurances of support.
The Chinese Legation on July II forwarded to
the Queen telegram dispatched from Peking
on July by the Emperor. follows:
Since the opening of commercial intercourse
between foreign nations and China the aspra-
uons Of Great Britain have always been after
commercial extension, not territorial aggrandize
ment. Recently, disSenSions having arisen be-
tween Christians and the people of Chilli and
Shan-Tung certain evilly disposed persons
nave availed themselves OF the occasion to make
disturbances, and these having extended so
rapidly the Treaty Powers. suspecting the riot
ers might have been encouraged by the Imperial
Government, attacked and captured the Taku
forts. The sufferin6s arising from this act of
hostility have been great and the situation is
much involved. IN consideration of the facts
that Of the foreign commerce of China more
than 40 per cent belongs TO England: that the
Chinese tariff is lower than that of any other
country and the restrictions thereon fewer.
British merchants have during the last few
decades maintained relations with Chinese mer-
chants at ports as harmonious as if both We're
members of the same family. But now compi-
cations nave arisen, mutual distrust has been
engendered and the situation having thus
changed for the worse It is felt that if China
cannot be supported in maintaining her position
Foreign nations. looking so large and pop
ulous a country, so rich in natural resources
might be tempted to exploit or despoil it, and
perhaps differ among themselves with resDect
to their conflicting interests. 1t is evident that
tils VIII create state OF matters that would
not be advantago goous to Great Britain. country
which views commerce as her greatest interest
China is now engaged in raising men and
ven r11aIit hut
feels that IL left to herself she might not be
eGuaI TO the occasion should 1t ever arrive, and
therefore turns to England in the hope Of pro-
curing her good offices in bringing about set
tiement Of the difficulties that have arisen with
the other Treaty Powers
The Emperor makes this frank exnosure ne
"hat IS nearest his heart. and hopes this appeal
to Her Majesty the Queen Empress may be
graciously taken under consideration and an
answer vouchsafed at the earliest possible mo-
ment. ~
The Parliament paper on China shows that
negotiations had previously passed between
Great Britain and the other European Powers
regarding the policy of Japanese action while
Lord Salisbury informed Ambassador Paunce-
fote on June % as follows:
You should suggest to Secretary of State F5av
that any troops which 1t IS possible to send from
HiallIa would be of great value. 1t is prob
able that the United States Legation is in great
danger, as well as the legations OF the other
Germany assumed the position regarding the
japanese matter that nothing must be done to
imperil the accord Of the Powers Japan in
sisted upon an assurance that her Intervention
would not lead TO collision with Russia. Rms
sla finally declared, June %, that she had
no desire to hinder Japan's liberty especially
after her expressed intention to conform her ac
ton to that Of the other Powers
The correspondence shows that Count Nrura-
vieff, the late Russian Minister Of F7oraier =
fairs, took an optimistic view Of the situation IN
China, but that Count Lamsdorff his successor
was far from sharing in this sanguine view
He thought that Northern China was in a state
OF hopeless anarchy, as did NJ. DeIcasse. the
French Minister Of Foreign Affairs who on
June considered the imminent danger over.
but who afterward, on July f. proposed a col
lecttve note warning the de facto government
at Picking hoping that this would demonstrate
the solidarity of the accord of the Powers M
Delcasse insisted that the relief Of the legations
at Peking was far more important than any
petty grievances among the Powers
On June % Lord Pauncefote informed Lord
Salisbury that in addition to the regiment al
ready ordered from Manila to Tien-Tsin three
hundred marines We're going, though at that
date the United States did not think a state of
war necessarily existed in China
The papers close with the edict of June %
already published. which was communicated to
the Foreign Office on July 13.