The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-03
HANGING BACK.
France Has Not Yet Replied to
the Russian Note
Proposing the Evacuation of
Pekin by Allied Armies.
NOT QUITE CERTAIN
That the Cars Plan Is Best to
Promote Peace.
Empress Dowager Is Busy Cut
ting Off Heads.

Paris Sept 3.-France has not yet
replied to Russia's note regarding the
withdrawal of troops from Pelxin. NJ
Delcasse, minister of foreign affairs,
and the Russian ambassador, Prince
Ouroussow, went to Rambouilla today
to confer upon President Loubet the
decoration of the Russian order of ST.
Andrew, recently accorded him by the
czar, and to present M Loubet the au-
tograph letter accompanying the deco
ration. 1t is believed that this will give
opportunity for an exchange of views
which will have an effect upon the
ministerial meeting which will be held
here tomorrow.
France regards peace as the first
requisite of the situation, but is not en-
tirely certain that the withdrawal of
the troops from Pekin is the surest and
quickest method to attain this end
CUTTING OFF HEADS.
New York, Sept. S.-The Herald this
morning publishes the following dis
patches:
Pelxin, Aug. 20, via Shanghai, Sunday
Three more members of the Tsung Ii
Yamen have been executed by the en-
press. They are Hen Tun, a member of
the imperial secretarate; Lii Shan, a
Yuan. They were put to death just be-
fore the arrival of the allied forces.
Yesterday was quiet in the section
allotted to Americans in the southern
part of the city. It's condition is in
great contrast to that of the other for
eign sections, where thieving still con-
tinues- The credit is due to General
Chaffee's excellent proclamation for
bidding looting and offering fair pay for
provisions. 1t has been ascertained
that the positions held by the legation
ers during the siege were undermined
by the boxers and in a few days more
the mine would have been sprung
Pekin, Aug. % via Shanghai, Sunday.
According to numerous reports the
many thousands of boxers who were
scattered on the arrival of the allies are
again massing to attack Pekin. These
rumors create great uneasiness-
The japanese have captured 5000
amount of s2,0OO.0 600. At Tien Tsin the
Americans have captured silver bullion
to the value of half a million dollars.
Pekin, Aug. %, via Shanghai, Sunday.
Ching Shin, Natung and Chung Lii,
mebers of the Tsung Ii Yamen, are
trying to negotiate with the generals of
the allied forces, through Sir Robert
Hart, director of imperial customs, in
order to prevent the destruction of the
innermost palace of the Forbidden City.
With the same object in view the Rus
SLAMS have occupied the palace.
Resident Americans hope that the ne
the city ought to be completely de-
stroyed, that Ma Tung and Chung Lii
should be beheaded since they formed
part of the cabal which caused the
murder of Baron Won Ketteler, and at
tempted to massacre all foreigners, and
that no leniency should be shown, or the
next generation of Cinnamon will re-
peat the crime.
The British forces met five miles to
the westward of Pekin 800 boxers and
1000 regular Chinese troops. The latter
fed without a shot and the boxers fol-
lowed suit after losing seventy men,
HORDES OF COSSACKS.
Portland, Ore, Sept. 3.-The steam
ship Monmouthshire has arrived, four
teen days from Yokohama. The Kobe
Herald of August IA says: Russia is
pouring tens of thousands of cossacks
from the north into Manchuria and re-
ports say no human soul is being spared
and a wide open tract is being made as
the troops press forward. They are,
nevertheless, meeting some opposition
en- route as the entire Chinese popula.-
ton come out against them"
Refugees continue to flock to Vladi-
vostok from the interior, and steamers
are leaving fully laden with them-
ENGLAND IS WAITING
London Sept. 3.-The difficulty Of
communicating with the British min
lister at Pekin, Sir Claude Macdonald,
delays the PRONUNCIATION of the views of
the British government in regard to it's
future steps in China, the government
being unwilling to commit itself pub
licly to a definite decision until Sir
Claude Macdonald has fully reported
on the situation.
In the meantime a heated anti-evacu-
alton campaign continues in the press,
and the trend of official opinion appar-
emily continues favorable to the prin-
cip1e of the suggested withdrawal from
Pelin to Tien Tsin, but not the evacu-
alton of China, as many usSo-phobes,
who desire to confine the issue, pretend
is the proposal under consideration
Nothing is yet forthcoming to indicate
Lord Salisbury may have suggested or
contemplated. The statement that
Geenral Gaselee, commander of the
British troops in China, has stopped
British reinforcements arriving at Hong
Kong from proceeding further north is
taken as an indication that the British
government anticipates that the diplo-
matists will very shortly take the place
now occupied by the military.
Tt is reported at Hong Kong that the
French gunboat Comete recently fired
on some Chinese farmers on the banks
of the Han Kaing, killing three and
wounding others The incident, it is
added, is regarded as liable to provoke
reprisals.
DELAY OF A WEEK
Washington, Sept. 3-F'ollowing it's an
nounced policy, the state department is
preserving silence as to the progress of
the negotiations not now afoOt respect
ing the withdrawal of troops from Peki1.
no definite responses have been received
to our last communication to the pow
ers on this subject. 1t is stated that in
all prOba bility at least a week will be
consumed in diplomatic exchange. In
that time one of two things may hap
pen. Russia may yield to what appears
to be the wish of nearly all the powers
and refrain from carrying out her pur-
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