Evening star., 1900-10-27
Strongly CorroboratiVe Advices From
Commissioner Rockhill.
IMPORTANT DISPATCH FROM CONGER
Friendly Southern Viceroys Not
Displaced.
ANGLO-GERMAN PROPOSALS

From an independent source Secretary
Hay has received confirmatory evidence of
the reported suicide of Yu Hsien, the fanati-
cal governor of the province of Shansi,
whose punishment was demanded by the
powers for the massacre of a large number
| of missionaries. A message came from Spe-
cial Commissioner Rockhill, as follows:
SHANGHAI, October o.
Have reliable information to the effect
that Yu Hsen committed suicide 22d.
'ROCKHILL."
1t Is regarded as probable by the State
Department officials that Mr. Rockhll was
unacquainted with the fact that the Chi
nese government itself had communicated
information to this effect to the powers be-
fore he sert his message, so that, coming
from another point than Pekin, where the
Chinese report emanated, Mr.. Rockhills
advice is regarded as strongly corrobora-
tive.
Friendly Ciceroys Not Displaced.
A dispatch has been received from Mr..
Conger, which, although of a negative char
acter, is regarded as important because it
goes to disprove the stories of the reaction
airy tendencies Of the imperial government.
The State Department has received reports
from various points in China and notably
from Canton, through It's agent there, to
the effect that the imperial government had
urueTeu the removal from once of the vice
royS OF the great GangtSe provinces of Nan
kin and Hankow. These men were said to
have been removed because of their pro-for-
elSn sentiments, and it is certain that it is
entirely due to their individual efforts that
the Boxer movements were Prevented from
extending into southern China. They also
Joined Ii Hung Chang in bringing pressure
to bear upon the imperial government to
cause II TO sue for terms with the powers
For these reasons it was regarded by Sec
retary HAY as highly important that the
friendly officials should not be displaced by
antl-foreign Chinese leaders Therefore he
cabled Mr.. Conger to investigate the report
and If it were found to be true then to
make the most forcible protest to the impe-
rial government through. the Chinese en-
voys at Pekn, Ii Hung Chang and Prince
Chng, against the proposed action This
morning Mr.. Conger reported that after
careful Investigation the story of the change
In administration had been found to be
without foundation.
Reply to AngIo-German ProposaJs.
The answer to the conrmnniea tons from
Germany and Great Britain eplbodying the
latest agreement relative to the "open door,
and the territorial integrity Ct China, will
probably go forward Monday. It is said
that from the first our government has
never been in doubt as: to the action it
should take upon that agreement or
rather, the invitation to approve the agree
ment. But 1t was not possible to move
speedily I'm the matter The English con-
struction of the agreement has been re-
ceived only within the last forty-eight
hours, and 1T was necessary to make sure
that 1t was technically similar to that for
warded from Berlin. Then the President
had to be acquainted with the details, and
finally, the form of answer prepared had
to be submitted to him at Canton. All this
has now been accomplished so that it is
expected that the answer will be delivered
to Count de Quadt here and to Lord Sails
bury through Mr.. Choate at London, early
next week.
The Third Clause.
The point OF interest Is the treatment that
will be accorded the third section of the
agreement relative to the course to be pur-
sued by the signatories in the event that
they find themselves obstructed In the ex-
ecution of the two preceding paragraphs. 1t
Is believed that the State Department will
hnd 1t unnecessary to enter into any agree
ment on that point in advance of the oc-
currence of the contingency referred to in
the third section. There can be no doubt
of its full acceptance of the first two ar
tcles, in view Of the fact that they are
nothing more than reaffirma tons of the de-
partment's own policies.