The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-07-23

Secretary of Chinese Legation Gives in,
 Information-snys Messages nIay Now
 be Expected from British Minister Il m (
 Other Envoys Almost Hmm cd ia tely--A
 Few Days More tIay Solve the Pel<ii
 nIyssery-Englands ssilI skcpticn1.
 London, July 23.-4 a. m. - Sir Chii
 Chen Loh Feng, the Chinese minister 1T
 London, took the unusual step yester'
 day of paying a Sunday call at the for
 eign office. As Lord Salisbury was ab
 sent the visit was without special re-
 suits, but its importance may be gath cred from an interview with the secre- tary of the Chinese legation, Sir Hall1- day MacArtney in which the legation officials seem to haveaassumed at least something like personal responsibility.
 Sir Halliday admitted that communi- cation had been practically reopened with Pekin and that messages from Sir Claude Macdonald. the British minis ter, and other foreign envoys might be expected almost immediately. He said he hoped the trouble would soon be over since the Chinese government was doing its utmost to overcome the difficulties and to control the lawless element. In his opinion the Americans had taken the most common sense view of the sit uation and he insisted that China should not be misjudged. Against the suspi- cion that Iii Hung Change had any but a sincere pacific object in view he pro- tested warmly declaring that all stories about the perfdy and treachery of Earl Lii were absolutely baseess.
 With regard to the prospects of the southern provinces the secretary admit ted that there might be small outbreaks but he said there would be nothing serious and that Europeans would be quite safe in treaty ports. The long si- lence he explained as due probably to the rebels who have cut the wires and blocked the roads,"
 Thus, according to the secretary of the Chinese legation, a few days more should bring solution of the great mystery. Nevertheless, no one in Eng land believes that the alleged dispatches and edcts are anything but subterfuges to hide the real situation as long as pos sble and to avert retribution by sowing discord among the powers.
 From Shanghai comes a report tha tN the empress dowager and the court are 1niving to Hsian Flu in the province of Shan Si to which large stores of rice and being sent, and that when the ar engagements are completed the remain ing viceroys will declare against for eigners.
 According to the Che Foo correspon- dent of the Daily Mail the fall of Tien Tsin has disheartened the Chinese that they are seeking terms of peace He says that several attempts have been made to send slnessage to Pel<in but so far without any known results, and adds that rumors are again current that the Russians are, reaching Pekln from the north, It is impossible to con- firm or deny these statements but either might explain China's efforts to gain time.
 The Shanghai correspondent of the Daily Mail declares that the Chinese officials are thoroughly frightened by the fall of Tien Tsn and desire to open negotiations "Therefore," he contin- ues, although all are aware of the hor- rible Pekin massacres, 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 to stop the military operations and that matters might cool down."
 There is the usual crop of Shanghai runors at hand this morning. One is that Prince Tuan has been abducted and that the empress dowager is again supreme. Another is that the notorious Kang Vi, president of the board of war, has been appointed 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 at- tacks upon the foreigners.
 The decision to keep the Indian divis- | ion at Hong Kong is supposed to be due | to the disquieting proceedings of the | ''Black Flags" at Canton. It Is report ed that the bogue forts are being re- armed by the Chinese with quick-fring Krupps and large stores of ammunition, and that the Chinese are mounting | guns and laying torpedoes at various points between Woo Sung l and Wu Chang. The foreigners and | Japanese traders have evacuated Niu Chwang where the roads are now be- ing guarded by Japanese marines.
 All foreign women and children have been advised to leave the forts on the Yang Tse Kiang.
 Slight skirmlshes are reported from Manchuria between the Russians and Chinese.
 The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Times says: "The United States has communicated to the Russian government for it's information that Emperor Kwang-Su was living and in full possession of his imperial func- tions on July g.
 "As soon as the Russian general Liv- evitch (reported from Vladivotstock to be marching to the scene Ot hOstlllties with an army corps and a complete ar tillery brigade) arrives at Tien Tsin the advance on Pekin will begin."
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