Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-07-27
Hold THEN HOSTAGES
Walter Wellman Says State Depart.
ment officials Believe Foreign.
srs Are so Held.
Many Facts and Incidents Would
Tend to Confirm This
Theory.
Willy Plot Of Chinese to Prevent
Powers From Invading Their
Country.

time today Omclal9 OF the state depart
nent admitted their belief that the for
seign ministers in Pekin are held as
hostages by the Chinese government.
Faith in this theory was expressed
after DR.. Hill, acting secretary of state,
had had a long interview with Mr.. Wa,
the Chinese representative at this capi-s
tai.
Neither the state department nor Mr..
WI had any news today. but the host
age theory was generally discussed by
all who hold that the legationers are
still alive.
According to this theory the original
trouble in Pekin was an insurrection-
airy outbreak which the government at
first encouraged.
The idea then was to preserve the
dynasty and the empire by catering To.
the anti-foreign sentiments of the mass
es.
But the insurrection grew to alarming
proportions 1t threatened the diplo-
mats and their suites who for a long
time defended themselves in the Brit
ish legation.
Finally the government saw it had
gone too far and that further success of
the ant-foreign movement. resulting in
the murder of the ministers would
surely defeat the purpose in view and
bring on them the destruction OF the
dynasty and disnlembermen OF tbs
empire by precipitating war With the
powers.
fTh . no HIST rJ,>I a1lf
to suppress the insulrection and 10 Sc
cure the safety OF the ministers. II is.
believed the change of policy OH the
part of Prince Tuan. the empress and.
their grand council came soon after le
ceipt of the news that the Taku forts
had been bombardsd.
State department. officials who hold
this theory go farther and say that in.
their opinion the Pekin government viz
tualy decided not only to protect the
ministers but 70 hold them Virtually as
hostages, and by thus suspending q
sword of Danloclea over their .leads 10
use the eilyoSs lever with which III
force the powers 10 abandon the project
of invading China and capturing Pekin.
II is further. believed by those who
subscribe 10 this theory tina, the min-
listers and their people are being Kept III
4 the British legation, Mere ths anti
foreign fanatics are permitted To be-
siege them. but where the sovsrnniens
takes good care that the fire upon them
shall! not besdestructive, aud that tbs
prisoners shall havs sufficient food
upon which To sustain life.
In other words. the Pekiil soyeiHiilstl;
is credited vyith5the nanstfous policy "a
playing the Iegationers both Mays
using them ON Inc che hand To appease
the Boxers and other insurrectiant,l.S
elements. and on the other as il club
with which to coerce the powers.
Incredible as this theesy appears al
first sight, ii is held by a number fauf
government officials Who are exceeding
~ Well iEforme as to all matters per-
tanning to this crisis, and IL is under
stood that Minister Wa himself seetetlS
believes this to be the tsue explanation
of the mystery.
After taking virtual possession Of tbs
legation people the Chinese government
began sending OUT its reports 10 tht
effect that the ministers We're alive.
There has been a Hood of sucn re
ports. The fact that none of these he.
ports come from the ministers them.
selves-uniess The Conger dispa tch bs
given full credtnce--is explained so il
is claimed. by The situation OF the en-
voys as prisoners held as hostages
If this theory be correct Of course i
Is to the interest of the Chinese gov.
eminent tn convince the powers tina
the ministers survive, and that they ar.
held prisoners nei by the government
but by the rebels.
KS II worst comes to worst proba bly, tn,
government is prepared TO prove---ft.
= well as II can prove anSthng-tiat i
did protect the legationers and did sup
ply them with food.
The various appeais5o Of the Pekin gov
eminent for the leniepcy If the powers
the almost fearful protestations j
great SORROW and injured innocence. an
a part Of the program.
So are the many reports that the min
istera still live. and the intimations tina
II the powers will abandon their pro
posed invasion and agre not to dfs
member the empire by way Of inden
nifty the legations Will be escorted Il
1.-THE coast and there be delivered 10 thei
respective governments.
s6 Lii Hung Chang is believed 10 be III
agent chosen BY the Pekn authorftie
to act as the Intermediary between tn
epOWSTs ana the sSOSernrn eDt OF Nsh!na
The imperial edlct calling him from hi
post at Canton came about the time o
the supposed changed of policy a
court.
Instead of going to Pekin he ha
stopped at Shanghai. where he is /,
much better position to communicat
with the outside world nd to make a,
impression upon the powers than h
would be 1.-THE capital.
Earl Ii is already playing a stron
hand SO far as his part of the enter
prise is concerned. He has informe
the world that the legations ara saf.
but that forward movement Of tn
allied troops would surely sound thei
death knell In this he may be right
It is suggestive, too, that the ne,
viceroy of Canton, Earl LIS successo
and protege. is put forward to make
rather blunt intimation that an inva
sion by force would be met by force
an intimation, by the way. which d
imperial edict had already issued in
more guarded way.
These are some of the facts whic
tend to give plausibility to the hostag
theory, and II is understood that on
government has further information q
IL 1oerroborative character, which it /