Evening star., 1900-07-25
ENGLAND'S ANSWER
Cannot Consider Mediation Until She
Hears Definitely From Pekin.
POSITION OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED
Views Of the Foreign Press on
the Chinese Proposal.
LOOKED ON AS CRAFTY

LONDON. July 25-The British premier
and minister of foreign affairs, Lord Sails
bury, today notified the United States am
bassador here. Mr. Joseph H. Choate. that
it was impossible to accept the evidence so
far submitted by the Chinese or that trans
mitted by the United States regarding the
safety of the foreign ministers at Pekn,
and that until their safety was thoroughly
established the British government would
he unable to discuss any question of media
tion or kindred matters.
LONDON July 25.-The tone of the Euro
pean press with regard to the message
dated July +, received here yesterday from
the British minister at Pekin, Sir Claude
Macdonald, continues pessimistic, and the
endless and extraordinary succession of
Chinese dispatches purporting to describe
the situation at Pekin only serves to be-
wilder However, the earlier unquestion-
ing belief that massacre took place has
to some extent been shaken, and it is now
admitted, despite the heavy load of evil
dence supporting the reports of the mas
sacre, that as Sir CLAUDE MacDonalds let
ter disposed of the first story alleging that
the crime occurred June 80, SO Minister
: Conger's dispatch and other stories
porting the legations safe July 10, IA and
Is give some ground for assuming the pos
sibility that the second reports were also
unfounded.
Another Version.
Another version of the story which
reached Gen. Ii, commanding the Pei-Tang
forts. by runner from Pekin, who brought
to him yesterday the report of anarchy in
the Chinese capital, which Gen. Lii commu-
nicated to the British officer commanding
at Tongu. says the British legation was be-
ing bombarded when the messenger left
Pekin July Il Prince Ching, this report
says. was assisting the ministers, and his
palace was protected by 10000 Chinese
troops. Prince Ching, according to this
port, considered himself able to cope with
the situation
According to dispatch from Chefoo re-
ceived here today, Admiral Seymour has
started for the Yang-tse river to arrange
for the protection of local ports which are
threatened with attack. The Austrian war
ships Kaiserin Elizabeth and Aspern have
sailed for China
There is some fear in London that the
Russian claim to the control of the railway
from Taku to Pekin will delay the proposed
advance of the allies to Pekin. 1t is thought
that this claim is in pursuance of Russia's
alleged fixed principle to prevent any power
but herself from penetrating to Pekin in
sufficient force to be effective. and to pro-
cure for herself sole occupation, either as
conqueror or peacemaker.
President McKinIey's Re. Iy.
Special dispatches received here today
from Berlin contrast the replies of Presi-
dent Mckinley and the German minister cf
foreign affairs, Count Buelow, to the
Chinese emperor's appeal. from the stand
point obtaining at Berlin, that the object of
all Chinese assurances is to gain time for
military Preparations and undermine the
unity of the powers.
The Morning Posts Berlin correspondent
asserts that the attitude of the United
States government is regarded as a decided
triumph for Chinese diplomacy, while the
Daily News says the attitude of the Wash
ingtcn authorities is regarded in Berlin as
regrettable error Similarly the London
afternoon papers regret that the Pres-
dent of the United States has taken a line
that hardly falls to encourage the Chinese
to further duplicity'
Generals viii Soon Control.
The Pail Mall Gazette says:
Surely this is not the time for amiabIe
tea-table talk about agreements and set
Elements President Mckinley has merely
succeeded in conveying the impression to
Pekin that the United States will enter
half -heartedly into campaign of reprisaIs
His exuberant courtesy may not, however
have much bad result as generals must
soon take the conduct of affairs out Of po-
litical hands"
Russia's View is War
CHICAGO. July ga special TO the Rec
ord from Moscow says:
Diplomatic circles in St Petersburg at
tach no Importance TO the news that the
Chinese government desires to secure the
mediation Of the United States with the
other powers and that President Mckinley
has signifed his Willingness under pru-
dent restrictions, to offer such mediation.
The Russian government takes the ground
that no legal government exists in China
and that war for the suppression Gf re-
beliion Is the only choice of the powers
concerned
took tho Danish missionaries in Manchuria,
after suffering much hardship, have been
relieved and are now safe in Vladivostock.
A dispatch received there from Chief En-
gineer Krutseszki of the Manchurian rail-
way at Algatschi reports that the Chinese
have occupied Khaiar, in northwestern
Manchurta, near the trans-Balkan frontier
Ihe whereabouts Of Colonel YoughOyitsch
Is unknown, but the Russian guard troops
are gathering for the relief of Khailar
The railway section between Tsitsfhar and
Harbin IL considered to be in grave danger
AL Is qTiet at Blagoveschchensk and in the
vicinity of that town, and trade has been
resumed.
Germany's Auxiliary Fleet.
PHILADELPHIA. July 25.-In addition
to the large feet of vessels chartered by
the German government as transports for
use IN carrying troops and munitions of
war 10 China, it is stated here that the
Hamburg American Packet Company's
steamship Adria. which has been a regu-
lar trader between Philadelphia and Ham
burg has been impressed into Germany's
service for immediate use
The steamship Bosnia is being hurried
along as rapidly as possible. and before
She leaves 500 tens of coal will be durpaJ
into her hold at the Greenwich coal piers
She Will proceed direct from Philadelphia
TO San Francisco where 4 stop will he
made to take on board a number of horses
for the German cavalry. The Bosnia's s
cargo will be the largest shipment of coal
that has ever been taken from Philadel-
phia or any port in the United States
The Rebels in Mexico
OAXA('A Mex IulY 2a A lnrszu IT, = e