Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-14
He Talks Freely of the Recent
Troubles in China.
SAYS emp RESS WAS BADLY ADVISED
Thinks the Question of Indemnity
Can Be Settled.
STARTS FOR PEKIN TODAY
Copyright, 1900. the Associated pres.)

Copyright, 1900, the Associated Pres1.D
SHANGHAI. Wednesday. September IL
Ii Hung Chang informed a representative
Of the Associated Press today that he will
start for Tien Tsin Friday. September IA,
that he will go to Pekin II circumstances
demand 1t and that Prince Ching and he
had full authority from the dowager en-
press and emperor to negotiate a settle-
ment with the powers. explaining that
there were no other commissioners for
China. The audience lasted an hour, the
correspondent being the interviewed rather
than the interviewer. Ii asked many ques.
tions about the fighting at Tfen Tsin, the
relief of Pekin, the number of troops Of
each power In China, their disposition and
fighting qualities, how the foreigners re-
garded the fighting qualities Of the Chinese.
how Pekin was defended and what bodies
of Chinese fought best. He expressed re-
gret at the privations Of the women and
children in Pekin.
During the interview Ii Hung Chang
asked the correspondent II Ministers Con-
ger and Macdonald appeared to have suf-
fered much, and when told that Mr.. Con-
ger had lost seventy pounds he laughed
merrily and remarked that this was "a poor
recommendation for horsefiesh.''
Comments on Russian Ontrages.
Ii Hung Chang also inquired whether the
correspondent had seen much abuse of the
Chinese or any ravishing Or killing OF wo-
men and children, and when told that the
abuses were practically confined TO the
Russians he said this was doubtless due
to lack of discipline and turned to the
subject Of looting, being anxious to know
how much government treasure the allies
had obtained. When informed that the
Japanese were reported to have taken
90, 100000 taels from the revenue officers at
Pekin, Ii Hung Chang said: "The rumor
must have added two ciphers to real
amount"
Throughout the interview Ii Hung Chang
appeared to be in fine spirits and talked as
one removed. by reason of his age and ex-
perience, from the field of controversy. He
regretted all the recent troubles, and said
he had no desire except to smooth them
over impartially.''
At another stage Of the interview Ii
Hung Chang said he deplored the fact that
the newspapers were preJudiced against
him, and asserted that this opposition orig
mated with the English press of Shanghai,
which influenced the papers of the world.
The correspondent remarked that the
Americans had never been preiudiced
against him, whereupon Ii Hung Chang
quickly demanded:
why don't they accept me as negotia-
tori"
Questions put to Ii Hung Chang concern
ing the settlement which the Chinese gov
ernment wanted to make were diplomati-
cally parried. He said: China has her
views as to what settlement is desirable
and the powers have their views. We will
meet and negotiate
The Question of Indemnity.
Asked whether he expected demands for
the cession of territory as indemnity, Ii
Hung Chang replied:
II am in communication with some Of the
governments. 1 have found they nave no
disposition to ask for land
The correspondent said: There Is great
curiosity abroad to hear an explanation Of
the contradictory edicts issued in the name
of the dowager empress during the SIEGE"
Ii Hung Chang meditated moment and
then. speaking deliberately, said:
The empress, at the beginning, was bad
ly advised She was told the Boxers had
supernatural powers; that they could not
be injured and were able to make it very
hot for the foreigners. She believed this,
but afterward found il was not true.
THE papers are incorrect in saying she
was coerced into issuing edcts. The Chi
nese government is despotism. No one can
coerce the empress. She like al other
rulers, is dependent on her advisers, and
sometimes their advice is bad and she may
be msled."
When the correspondent was leaving the
interpreter said:
THE viceroy hopes you will not give a
bad impression of him to the American pa
pers. He says he is very old man-Ihe
Oldest to take part in these negotiations
that he has had much experience in these
affairs; that he is the only man who can
help the foreign governments as we'll
the Chinese, and that he will try to arrange
a settlement fair to all parties