The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-07-25
PROOF is LACKING.
England Wants to Know that the pekinI
Ministers Are Safe.
IMPRESSION STILL PREVAILS,
Despite MaCDonald'S Letter, that For
eigners We're Massacred.
THE OFFICIALS ARE IN CONSULTATION
As to ihe Course 10 Be Pursued If Minis.
tiers Are Still Alive.
is NO INTENTION TO PARTITION CHINA
Tt Is Unanimously Agreed That N
Ministers Are Alive the Active
HE OFFICIALS ARE IN CONSULTATION
As to lhe Course 10 Be Pursued If Minis.
tiers Are Still Alive.
is NO INTENTION TO PARTITION CHINA
II Is Unanimously Agreed That n
Ministers Are Alive the Active
Campaign VIII End.

London, July 24.-The Chinese minister,
Sir Chin Chen 10 Feng Kah, had long
interview with Lord Salisbury this after
noon. Tho general situation was discussed
and the Chinese minister admitted he had
said Sir Claude Macdonald and the other
foreigners at Pekn were safe. Lord SAL
isbury reiterated his demand for direct
communication from the minister al
Pekin. To this request the minister could
only renew his protestatlons that It would
be speedily accomplished If possible. He
adducsd no new facts to prove his ssser-
tons. Tho Interview closed without re.
suit
Despite the Chinese minister's state
meuts and despite Sir Claude MacDonald's
letter OF July 4. n strong impression con-
tinues to prevail at the foreign office
that the ministers at PekIn were massa-
cred July 8.
The Associated Press correspondent Is
| informed thst not one solntilla of evidence
IL yet in the possession Of the foreign
office leading them TO disbeliave the re-
ports OF the murders Sir Claude Mac
Donald's letter, with its account Of severe
nghting In progress, merely confirms the
governments forebodings. William Pritch-
ard Morgan, member OF parliament for
Merthyr Tydvil. whose knowledge Of and
interests In China are extensive informed
the Associated Press correspondent today
that he was positive from cable messages
from his agents that the members Of the
legations we're alive July 9.
When the foreign office was told this,
the rejoinder was: "Mr Morgan has sub,
mitted no evidence to convince us OF tho
truth of his statement, however anxious
we may be to believe It,"
Consultations are In progress between
cabinet ministers and officials as to tho
course to be pursued should the ministers
prove to be alive The contingency OF
China holding them as hostages is upper
Associated Press correspondent is Off
cially informed that the Chinese diplomats
have not yet limited at such action.
| Negotiations between the powers have
brought out mutual assurances that the
military expeditions to China arc for the
sole purpose of relieving the legations
and there is no intention to partition
China Hence should China agree to de-
liver the ministers alive. no power will
have reason for continuing aggressive
military operations, except Germany,
whose minister is undoubtedly dead and
even Germany, to quote IL high British
official will have to forego the empe-
rors assertion thar ne would not stop
until the German flag iosted over Pehin."
AS for the other powers, 1t Is emphat-
ically stated that they have unanimously
agreed that with tho safe delivery Of the
ministers, the aggressive campaign Will
end. This agreement is purely negative
and based upon the lines stated by Sec
rotary Hay, Of which the independence
and Integrity OF the Chinese empire are
essential features.
IN common with the other powers, Ger
many must, through arbitration or other
wise, gauge the damages by the loss OF
life OF her minister by pecunary stand
ard The same rule Will apply as to the
loss of other lives ana destruction VI
, property.
At the Chinese legation the Associated
Press correspondent was informed that no
further news from China had been re-
ceived today and that 1t was expected that
the ministers should be sent to Ten Tsin'
Secretary Lew expressed unstinted praise
of the attitude OF the United States secre-
tary of state and declared his implicit be-
lief that the ministers were safe. He
said the negotiations with the powers on
behalf OF China had all been entrusted "a
the Chinese minister at Washington WI
Ting Fang.
Secretary Lew professed ignorance Of
their progress. II may safely be stated
that should the ministers prove to be
} alive the Chinese government WILL tc
some extent use them as lever to com
pei European and American missionarie,
and commercial enterprises to moderate
their activity, II not TO withdraw from
the empire entirely