The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-28
And that Conger and Others Had Then
Taken Their Legation Guards
and Proceeded to Tien-Tsin.
REPORT FROM ADMIRAL KEMPFF
HE SAYS THE MINISTER'S ARE WITH
SEYMOUR'S PARTY.
President Mckinley Reported to BE-
lieve that the Worst Is Override
parture of General Chafee.

WASHINGTON, June N.-The Chinese
minister called this morning on the secre-
tary of state and communicated to him the
contents of dispatch which he had re-
ceived from the Tsung Ii Yamen at Peking,
dated the 18th inst. The dispatch states
that the foreign ministers had before that
date asked permission for the legation
guards to enter the city, which perms-
sion had been granted, and that they sub
sequently asked that these guards be re-
inforced, which the Chinese government
was not disposed to permit. The dispatch
| then goes on to state that the consul gen.
| eral at Tien-Tsn - supposed to be the
French consul general-had telegraphed to
| the viceroy of Chilli that the foreign ad-
miral had demanded the surrender of the
| Taku forts, and that the foreign ministers
| were shortly to leave .Peking for Tien-Tsin
with their guards.
| This information made the developments
| of the day respecting China important and
| interesting. The Chinese minister's report
| of the intended departure of the foreign
ministers and their guards from Peking
| greatly relieved the officials here. who took
| ii as the first tangible evidence that the
| imperial Chinese government had a full
realization of the enormity of permitting
| the ministers to come 10 personal harm,
| and were thus undertaking far lay
| in their power to observe the amenities
| of international exchange. The keenest in
| terest is shown by the officials to learn the
| conditions under which the ministers left
| Peking. Minister Wu's dispatch was
| ominously silent on that point, and though
| the minister himself maintains almost OBJ
stinately his confidence in the nonexistence
| of a state of war ii is generally admitted
| that II will be difficult to accept his conclu-
| sion If it shall transpire that the Peking
| government itself has sent the ministers
| away with their passports, or, what may
| come to the same thing, with guard
| safe conduct At the State Department 1T
] is said that If il shall be explained that
| the imperial government did this, not with
purpose of rupturing diplomatic rea-
| tions, but simply to insure the safety of
| the ministers. which they were unable to
| guarantee as long as they remained in
Picking, then there is still ground for an
understanding. 1t is. however, pointed out
/ that in such case the self-confessed in
ability of the imperial government to main
1 tain peace and order at the capital would
amount to an admission of it's utter failure
4 a
| state worse than that of actual war.
In either event, it now appears to the salts
| faction of the officials that there alb
solute justification for such Intervention as
we have offered in China.
| WI BELIEVES HIS STATEMENT.
Minister WI is firmly convinced of the
| accuracy of the statements contained in
his message Secretary Hay also was in
| clined to credit the dispatch and
| pleased to find that 1t was corroborated by
| the dispatch of the French consul general
| in Shan-Tung TO his own government
| NJ Cambon. the French ambassador.
| called at the State Department just in ad-
/ vance of the Chinese minister, but he had
/ no advices from his own government re-
/ specting the Chinese situation. In we'll
/ informed diplomatic circles the news that
| the foreign ministers were to leave Peking
| for the north under a Chinese escort is
/ regarded with some apprehension. 1t is
| presumed, of course, that the escort is
| composed of imperial troops. but feeling
| Of unrest is induced by the evident fact
/ that in the present circumstances even
| the imperial troops are not absolutely to be
/ trusted Indications are abundant that
| they. too, are imbued with the anti-foreign
| sentiment which has found its chief ex-
| ponent in the Boxers. While no fear is
| expressed that the personal safety Of the
! diplomatic representatives of foreign gov
/ ernments is endangered, the intimation is
| conveyed that they may be held as hos
| tages If this should be true the troops
| accompanying them would be rather
guard than an escort. 1t is pointed out
| that in 1860, in circumstances similar to
those which obtain at present. the French
| minister was taken north from Pekng un-
der escort" He was actually held as
| hostage.
Diplomatic representatives of foreign gov
| ernments here have received. so far as
known. little news from their governments
| with respect TO the situation in China.
While some meager reports have reached
various legations. the difficulty of obtain
| ing accurate information is embarrassing
all governments interested in the trouble in
| China.
Oficials in the State and War depart
| ments were interested in the dispatch re-
eeived by Minister WI. not only because of
its contents, but especially because Of the
route by which IL was transmitted Mr.
| wu said il reached him from Peking by
way of Sinan-Fu. Sinan is the capital of
the province OF Shan-Tung. southeast of
Peking and northwest OF Shanghai. The
word Flu following the name OF city indi-
Gates that IL is the capital of a province
The city is near the Hoang~Ho. one of the
two great rivers in China. Telegraphic
communication betweea Peking and Sinan
cor Tsi-Nanl. as IL is set down on the Ger
man maps. is almost direct. but through 10
Shanghai. the nearest cable station. the
route is roundabout. That Minister Wu's