The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-18
Hoods SarsaparilIa

are perfectly satisfied that any such move
as this would come TO naught. being thor
oughly sure now that. no matter what
doubts may have been entertained az
one stage. each and every one OF the great
powers represented in the field In China 10
Loyalty living up TO it's pledge to attain the
objects set out I'm Secretary Hays note TO
the powers. This statement is true as to
Russia as well as to the other powers. ac-
cording to the best authority.
Confirmation of the transfer of Il Hung
Chang 10 the north came 10 the State De-
partment not only from Minister WI. but
in a cablegram from Consul General Good
now at Shanghai. II is said that Ii Hung
Chang has started for Canton. on his way
to Picking. 1t is expected that he will land
at Taku. or at San-Hai-Kwan. a port on
the Gulf of Pe-Chi-Li. connected by a good
road with Picking. If the viceroy can get
into Picking, he also can carry messages
TO the foreign ministers. IL they are still
alive. and without doubt the State De-
partment, as well as the European prime
ministers. will seize the opportunity to
make one more test of the truth OF the
latest reports respecting the safety Of the
legations.
STATEMENT BY WI.
The news of the fall of Tien-TsIn was
conveyed TO the Chinese minister early to-
day. He was deeply interested. but evinced
little surprise at this outcome. as he had
looked on the result as inevitable. He was
surprised that any effective resistance had
been made on the first day of the lighting.
Mr.. WI is remaining in practical seciusion-
He is anxious TO get away and take a most
needed rest. but he feels that he cannot do
so while a crisis is on. When seen to-day
he was induced to answer the following d.
rect question:
BASED on your knowledge Of the situa-
ton and familiarity with Chinese charac-
ter and affairs. how would you advise that
the present situation be metz"
The minister pondered for a time and
then said: 1.-THE first essential in dealing
with the present situation is to remain
calm in the midst of the present feverish
excitement and to avoid hasty conclusions
based upon a multitude Of conflicting re-
ports. To be sure, IL appears that fighting
has occurred at Tien-Tsin. but many OF the
most vital features of this affair are lack
ing. There is nothing to show the steps
taken by the viceroy or the Tac-Tai to
maintain order and prevent bloodshed.
at is clear that Tien-Tsin is cut of from
Picking, so that, at most. this can be but
a local demonstration, and not at all at
tributable to the government of China.
1.-The question is, how TO meet the actual
occurrences in China The first suggestion
is TO send great bodies of troops. and on
that my position makes 1t impossible for
me to express an opinion. But this much.
at least, seems plain TO me-that with any
armed force there should go also a civil
officer or officers. men of the very highest
ability and intelligence. Thai would at
ford an opportunity TO learn whether there
was any need of fighting. The purposes and
the policy on each side could be made
| plain, and there could be an intelligent I'M
Outstanding TO each other before a recourse
to bloodshed."
The minister also emphasized the fact
that China did not want war. and he
pointed out that this attitude was made
plain by the edict of June %, in which great
stress was laid on Ch!na's unwillingness to
be brought into contest with the powers
and her realization that such a result
would be disastrous. The minister regards
this as <he only tangible evidence Of Chi
mas policy and proof positive that China
is against war at this time.