Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-07-30


lister, Sir Chih Chen Lofeng Luh, had
a long interview with Lord Salisbury
yesterday. The general situation was
discussed, and the Chinese minister adj
mitted his belief that the British min
lister to China, Sir Claude Macdonald.
and the other foreigners in Pekin were
SAFE Salisbury reiterated his demand
for direct communication with his min
lister at Pekin. To this request the
minister could only renew his pro-
testations that it would be speedily ac-
complished if feasible. He adduced no
new facts to prove his assertions and
the interview closed without result.
Despite the Chinese minister's state
ment, and despite MacDonald's letter
of July 4, a strong impression con-
tinues to prevail at the foreign Office
that the ministers at Pekin were mas
sacred July 6. Not one scintilla of evil
| dence is yet in the possession of the
| foreign office leading to disbelief of
| the reports of the murder Mr.. Mac
Donald's letter which says that severe
fighting was in progress merely con-
/ HILLS tuG SOVGIuluCut LII
Consultations are in progress be-
tween the cabinet ministers and of
ficials as to the course to be pursued
should the ministers prove to be alive.
| The contingency of China holding
them as hostages is uppermost in the
minds of all although the Chinese Dip
| lomats have not yet limited at such
action Negotiations between the
powers have brought out mutual as
surances that the military expeditions
to China are for the sole purpose of
relieving the legations, and that there
is no intention of the partition OF
China. Hence, should China agree to
deliver the ministers alive, no, power
will have reason for continuing ag-
gressive military operations except
| Germany whose minister is undoubt-
edly dead, and even Germany, to quote
a high British official, will have to
forego the emperors assertion that he
would not stop till the German flag
fioated over Pekin.
AS for the other powers, it is en-
phatically stated they have unani-
mously 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. The powers, while holding
their forces in readiness to enforce de-
mands, will accept pecuniary indemni-
ty. No territorial propositions will be
considered. In common with other
/ powers Germany must through arbi-
tration or otherwise, gauge the dam
ages of the loss of life of her minister
by a pecuniary standard. The same
rule will apply to loss of other lives
and destruction of property. At the
Chinese legation no further news from
China was received Secretary Lew
expressed unstinted praise of the at
titude of Secretary Hay. Col. Hay
has declared his implicit belief that
the ministers are safe. He said the
negotiations with the powers in be-
half of China had all been entrusted
to the Chinese minister at Washing
ton, WI Ting Fan. Secretary Lew
professed utter ignorance of their pro-
gress.
1t may with safety be stated that
! should the ministers prove to be alive
the Chinese government will to some
extent use them as lever to compel
the European and American mission
aries and commercial enterprises to
moderate their activity, if not with
draw from the empire entirely. On
this point, VIM. Pritchard Morgan
who is in close touch with the Chinese
minister, said 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:
IF you withdraw your missionaries
and give UP your concessions, we will
give ample pecuniary remuneration
for your Losses. We will then deliver
your ministers, except Germany
alive. If you don't agree we can't be
ansWerable for the lives of your min
listers. We cannot reconcile the ma
jority of our people to the foreign ele-
ment, and 'Who,' said Morgan, will
have hardihood enough to say to
China, Go ahead, kill the ministers
and we will take revenge I believe
Secretary Hay has adopted the only
right course. His action is splendid,
whatever the result. feel confident
the foreign ENJOYS are alive" This
explanation has been seriously con-
sidered by the foreign Office, it is re-
| garded as almost too ingenious even
| for Cinnamon.
Ii Hung Chang's Strange Words
Shanghai, July 25.-In an interview
Ii Hung Chang reiterated the state
ment that if the Manchu party has
been guilty Of the horrible treachery
involved in the massacre of the mem