The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-07-25
Chinese DoN'ncast
By Fall Of Tien Tslll.
Now Said to be Seeking Terms
of Peace.

10 London, took the unusual step yes
,erdsy Of paying Sunday call at the
foreign office AS Lord Salisbury Vas
absent, the visit was without special
result, but it's importance may be
gathered from an interview with the
secretary of the Chinese legation. Sir
Halliday Maccartney in which the le.
CATION officials seem to have assumed
at last something like personal respon'
sibility.
Sir Halliday admitted that commuol.
cation had been practically reopened
with Pek.a and that messages from
Sir Claude Macdonald. the British min.
lister, and the other foreign ENJOYS
might be expected almost Immediately.
He said be hoped the trouble would
soon be over. since the Chinese govern
meus was doing its utmost to over
come the difficulties and TO coat:ol the
lawless element. In his opinion the
Americans had taken the most common
sense view of the situation, and he
insisted that China ought not be mis-
Judged. Against che suspicion that Ii
Hung Chang had any but sincerely
pacific object iu view be protested
warmly, declaring that all stories about
the perfdy and sresohery of Earl LII
we're absolutely bsseless.' y
With regard to the prospects in the
southern provinces. the secretary ad-
mi,sed that there might be small! out
breaks but he said there would be moth
ing serious and that Europeans would
be quite safe in treaty ports The lg
silence he explained IS educ pro ..oly
to the rebels. who have cut the wires
aud blocked the roads q
Thus according to the secretary Of
the Chinese legation, few days mere
should bring a solution Of the great
mystery. Nevertheless no one in Eug-
land believes that the alleged dispatches
and ediots are anything but subterfuges
TO hide the real situation as long as
possible aud to avert retributloD BY
sowing discord among the powers.
EMPRESS DoWAGER MOVING.
From Shanghai comes report that
the empress dowager and the court are
moving to Hsian Fu (D. in the pro-
vince Of Shan ST. to which large stores
Of rice are being sent. and that, when
these arrangements are completed. the
remaining yiceroys will declare againas
foreigners.
CHINESE DISHEARTENED.
According to the Chefoo correspond
eus of the Daily Mail the fall of lien
Tsin has 80 dishesrteped the Chinese
that they are seeking terms of peace.
He says that seversl attempts have
been made to send messages to Pekln
but SO far without any known results
and adds that rumors are again cur
rem. that the Russians are reaching
Pekin from the north. 1t is impossible
to confirm OF deny these statements !;
but either one might explaio Chloa's
efforts to gain time.
The Shanghai correspondent OF the
Daily Nail declares that the Chinese
officials are thoroughly frightened By
the fall of Tien Tsiu and desire to open
NEGOTIATIONS. "Tberefore." he contin
ues, although all are aware OF the
horrible Pekin massacres, every othclai
down to the bumbest retainer has beeo
sworn to secrecy upon the penalty OF
wholesome executions should the de-
tails leak out. They hope. if the pow
ers once begin negotiations, TO stop the
military operations and that matters
might cool down "
There is the usual crop Of Shanghai
rumors at hand this morning. One is
that Prince Tuan has been abducted
aud shat the empress dowager is again
supreme Another is that the notorious
Kaug Vi, president of the board of
war, has been appointed viceroy of
Cao:oo.
FIGHTING REBELS ONLY
The Tieu Tsiu correspondent Of The
Daily News says the allies have issued
! proclamation announcing that they
are not fighting China, but onIy the
rebels who have been guilty of ATTACKS
upon the foreigners.
Ii Hung Chaug's visit to Shanghai
seems to be complete failure. Except
| the Chinese custom officials, 20 one has
visited him. Sbcpg, the chief mag's
tra.e, gave the consuls cordial invita-.
ton to meet him at luncheon, but all
declined
The Shanghai correspondent Of The
Daily Express p5e-ends to have author
i,y for the assertion that Great Britain
will repudiate any credentials Ii Hung
Chang may briog from the empress
dovager, and he adds Russia. how.
..AS