The Portland daily press., 1900-07-25
Ministers are Looked
For at Tien Tsin.
How Messages are Transmitted
in China.

Washington, July 24.-The State De-
partment IS again in a waiting attitude
regarding China. It has frankly, prompt
ly and fully answered thu Chinese emper-
or S appeal for mediation and the CORES
pondence given publicly today makes it
appear that the next move is for the
Chinese. government. 1t is expected to
accept or reject our terms at once and in
either case the answer must convey It'd
ings of the state of affairs at Pekin and
the welfare of the legationers.
= ? The belief is not concealed here that
the chances for successful mediation are
sli ght. Mediation cannot be forced upon
party to a cause; it must be acceptable
to all the parties. If the United States
is to mediate in China's interests she
must first secure the assent of all the
powers who have suffered in life or prop
erty at Pekin. The difficulties in the
way of such an undertaking are likely to
be many and serious in view Of the exhi-
bition of feeling in Europe.
But it is said here that til United
States viii cheerfully undertake the task
provided its conditions are met. II it'll
does not succeed IN inducing the Europ-
can powers to be lenient IN their treat
ment of the imperial government of
China, the United States government
viii not be drawn into further hostilities
after we have taken care of our own
affairs, but we viii withdraw taking
care, however, to let 1t be understood
that this government viii not allow its
proper interests in China to be injured
by the action of any of the powers t that
may choose to remain obdurate.
At least one of the greatest of the pow
ers is under strong suspicion here of act
ing cold -bloodedly and without regard to
sentiment or anything more than the
most material of considerations It is
believed here that this power is quietly
taking measures to drop out of the league
at Tien Tsin and conduct a campaign
on its own account against Pekin and it
IS even suspected that this power Is al
ready moving troops toward the Chinese
capital.
One fact regarded as now beyond need
of further demonstration in view of the
Chinese appeal is that the Chinese Off
cials at the coast ports are actually in
communication with whatever remains
of the imperial government at Pekln and
the text Of Kwang Su appeal appears
to establish the fact that the Chinese gov
ernment itself is sanctiOning the resist
ance to the international advance upon
P5kin.
The State Department. and the Chinese
legation substantially agree in the esti-
mate Of six to eight days as the time nee
essary to get a reply to the President S
answer to the appeal of the Chinese gov
ernment According to the best informed
here urgent messages are being trans
mitted between Pekin and Shanghai by
the Flying Express mentioned in Con-
sui Fowler S cabIegram few days ago.
This, according to the Chinese is a relay
system of mounted messengers similar
to the old pony service across the plains
and is used when the wire com munica-
tiOn Is interrupted. The relay riders
make about two hundred miles q day 1t
is four hundred miles from Shanghai to
Pekin and this seems to agree very
we'll with the speed made in forwarding
and returning the COnger message. AS
suming from Sheng despatch that
movement was on foot on the 18th inst.
to get the foreign ministers started from
Pekin to Iien Isin under escort OF inn
perial troops the state department. would
not be surprised to get definite news OF
them from the headquarters of the allied
forces in q short time The distance
from Tien Tsin to Pekin is rs miles and
at this season the trip is usually made
by road from Pekin to Tong Choo, a
point of the Pei HO, twelve miles below
The capital and the remainder of the way
by boat This trip now would take four
days, supposing the escort of imperial
troops is met with no resistance from the
insurgents. If the move from Pekin
was within two days after Sneng' S infor
nation was received, it would be possible
that the legati0ners and their escort are
now in touch with the headquarters Of
the allies, always supposing that nothing
serious happened to the party on the
road.