Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-23
AS EUROPE SEES 1T
ENGLISH. FOREIGN OFFICE ADMITS
COMMUNICATION WITH PEkIN,
Americans Credited With Taking
Most Common-Sense View.
of Situation.

AoA>Do3<, July 4 dH-olT Snln 1Hen
Lob Feng. the Chinise minister in London,
took the unusual step yesterday of pay
ing Sunday call at the foreign office. AS
Lord Salisbury was absent the visit was
without special result, but its Importance
may be gathered from an interview with
the secretary of the Chinese legation, Sir
Halliday Mccartney, in which the legation
officials seem to have assumed at last some
thing like personal responsibility.
Sir Halliday admitted that communication
had been practically reopened with Pekin
and that messages from Sir Claude Mac
donald, the British minister and the other
foreign ENJOYS might be expected almost
Immediately. He said he hoped the trouble
would soon be over. since the Chinese gov
eminent was doing its utmost to overcome
the difficulties and to control the lawless
element.
American View Most Sensible
In his opinion the Americans had taken
the most common-sense view of the situa-
ton, and he insisted that China ought not
TO De misJudged. Against the suspicion that
Ii Hung Chang had any but a sincere pa
cific object in view he protested warmly,
declaring that all stories about the perfdy
and treachery of Earl Ii were absolutely
baseless''
With regard to the prospects in the south
there might be small outbreaks but he
said there would be nothing serious and
that Europeans would be quite safe in the
treaty ports. The long silence he explained
as due probably to the rebels, who have
cut the wires and blocked the roads"
Ihus, according to the secretary of the
Chinese legation, a few days more should
bring solution of the great mystery.
Disbelief is General in England.
Nevertheless, no one in England believes
that the alleged dispatches and edicts are
anything but subterfuges to hide the real
situation as long as possible, and to avert
retribution by sowing discord among the
powers.
From Shanghai comes a report that the
empress dowager and the court are moving
to Hsian-Fu CD, in the province of Shan ST.
to which large stores of rice are being sent
and that, when these arrangements are
completed, the remaining viceroys will de-
clare against foreigners.
According to the Chefoo correspondent of
the Daily Mail, the fall of Tien Tsin has so
disheartened the Chinese that they are
seeking terms of peace He saws that sew
eral attempts have been made to send mes
sages to Pekin, but so far without any
known results. and adds that rumors are
again current that the Russians are reach
ing Pekin from the north. 1t is impossible
to confirm or deny these statements; but
either one might explain Chinas efforts to
gain time.
LIS Visit Frost.
Ii Hung Chang's visit to Shanghai seems
to be complete failure. Except the Chi
nese customs officials, no one has visited
him. Sheng, the taotai (chief magistrate),
gave the consuls a cordial invitation to
meet him at luncheon, but all declined
The Shanghai correspondent of the Daily
Express pretends to have authority for the
assertion that Great Britain will repudiate
fio1r r Z
from the empress dowager. and he adds:
Russia, however, is willing to make
terms with Lii Hung Chang, whose real mis-
sion is to sow dissension among the powers
The British. German and American resi-
dents were resolute against receiving him."
Shanghai Reports Chinese Frightened
The Shanghai correspondent of the Daily
Mail declares that the Chinese officials are
thoroughly frightened by the fall of Tfen
Tsin and desire to open negotiations.
therefore, he continues, although all
are aware Of the horrible Pekin rassacres,
every official down to the humblest retainer
has been sworn to secrecy, upon the penalty
OF wholesale executions, should the details
leak out. They hope, If the powers once
begin negotiations. 10 stop the military op-
erations and that matters might cool
down"
There is the usual crop Of Shanghai ru-
mors at hand this morning. One is that
Prince Tuan has been abducted and that
the empress dowager is again supreme An
other is that the notorious Kan VI presi-
dent of the board of war, has been appoint
ed viceroy of Canton.
The Tien Tsin correspondent of the Daily
News says that the allies have issued a
proclamation announcing that they are not
fighting China, but only the rebels who
have been guilty of attacks upon the for
eigners.
Warnings to Foreign Women.
The decision to keep the Indian division
at Hong Kong is supposed to be due to the
disquieting proceedings of the BLACK
Flags at Canton. 1t is reported that the
Bogue forts are being rearmed by the Chi
nese with Quick-firing Krupp guns and
large stores Of ammunition, and that the
Chinese are mounting guns and laying tor
pedoes at various advantageous points be-
tween Woo Sung and WI Chang. The for
eigners and japanese traders have avacu-
ated Niu Chwang, where the roads are now
guarded by Japanese marines.
All foreign women and children have been |
advised to leave the forts on the Yang
Use Kiang.
Sight skirmishes are reported from Man
churia between the Russians and Chinese.