New-York tribune., 1900-07-18
REPORTED SAFE ON JULY g..
CHINESE TICEROYS. SAY FOREIGNERS IN
PEKING WERE WELL AND UNDER
GOVERNMENT PROTECTION.
CBv The Associated Press.l

(By The Associated PressD
Washington. July 17.-Mialster WI to-day re-
ceived dispatch from the Chinese Minister in
London authenticated by Sheng the Imperial
Director of Posts and Telegraphs at Shanghai,
and by two Viceroys declaring that the foreign
ers in PekinG We're safe on July 9, and were
receiving the protection Of. the Government.
This two days after the reported massacre.
Minister WI laid the message before Secretary
Hay
The text of the dispatch is as follows:
The utmost efforts have been made pro-
tect foreign Ministers, who were well on
the 18th Chinese calendar, corresponding
TO July o.
If Tien-Tsin City should be destroyed, it
would be difficult to restore the same In
one hundred years. Request the Powers to
preserve it, the consequences would af-
feet Chinese and foreign commerce.
Earl Lii Hung Chang is transferred 10 North
China as NicerOy to Pe-Chi-L. please trans
init this dispatch to the Ministers at other
capitals.
This dispatch. which is dated July 1G was
signed by Viceroys Liu Kun Vi and Chang Chih
Tung, of Marking and Wu-Chang respectively,
and also by Sheng, Director of Posts and Tele-
graphs at Shanghai 1t was addressed to the
Chinese Minister in London and by him trans
nitted to Minister WI under to-day's date.
In accordance with the request contained in
the dispatch Minister WI asked Secretary Hay
Tien-Tsin from destruction. The Secretary's an
swer was not made public but Minister WI
fears that the destruction already has occurred.
APPEAL TO POWERS FOR TIEN-TsIN.
Minister WI received the dispatch about IL
o'clock this morning and greatly pleased
by its statements He started at for the
State Department. where he remained with Sec
retary Hay some time. In addition TO present.
ing TO Mr.. Hay the contents of his dispatch
Minister WI also officially executed the direction
for an appeal to the Powers not to destroy the
walled city of Tien-Tsin. So far as the United
States is concerned, there has been no purpose
wantonly TO destroy this walled city, although
the latest news indicates that the walls have
been battered down and a considerable portion
OF the city has been destroyed. Mr.. WI said
afterward that he feared the destruction Of the
city was little short of complete
The Minister expressed the most complete
confidence in the accuracy of the message.
When a bystander expressed some doubt this
subject Mr. WI inquired, with warmth:
why is it that you believe the exaggerated re-
ports coming from unknown sources and yet
you choose to doubt this report signed by our
highest officials and containing inherent evi-
dence of accuracy?"
DOUBTED AT STATE DEPARTMENT.
The State Department officials are anxious to
accept Mr.. Wu's message as accurate but there
are some clouds of debut about it, The question
naturally arises, as it has many times in the
last two weeks, If the Chinese Government can
communicate in this way with it's representa-
tives abroad, why it not permit the foreign
Ministers represented TO be under its protection
also to communicate with their Governments?
In answer to the other question, as to what
purpose would be served by a Misrepresentation
Of facts in this fashion it is pointed out that
result desired by the Chinese would be the
preservation of Tien-Tsin. and another would be
the abatement, temporarily at least, Of the popu-
lar resentment.
Minister Wu went to show that his dis
patch contained three distinct statements. One
OF them, the appointment Of Ii Hung Chang
Viceroy Of Pe-Chi-L had already been con-
1rmed by the State Department. Moreover, he
said all three statements bore evidence Of hav-
ing originated at Picking. including that to
Ii Hung Chang, whose appointment necessarily
must originate with the Government.
The appointment of Ii Hung Chang as Viceroy
Of Pe-Chi-Li is considered by Minister WI as
of the most important developments in the
entire situation. Pe-Chi-Lf is the great province
in which Peking is located. and is the very heart
Of the Boxer movement, so that the Vceroy now
assumes power at the point of greatest danger.
Minister Wu is satisfied that if Ii Hung Chang
had been PeIHng there would have been no
such outbreak as has occurred, as the Viceroy
is stern military man, who believes in npping
such movements in the bud.
Ii Hung Chang will replace Viceroy Of the
great province Of PEI Chill a who has been
notoriously anti-foreign in his sentiments and
actions The summons 70 Ii is regarded
hopeful sign
Confirmation Of the transfer of Ii Hung Chang
to the North to the State Department not
only from Minister WI but in cable dispatch
from Consul-General Goodnow at Shanghai. 1t
is stated that Ii Hung Chang has started from
Canton on his way TO Peking 1t is expected
that he will land al Taku Shan -Hai-Kwan,
port on the Gulf Of Pe-Chi-Li connected by a
good road with Peking. If the Viceroy can get
into Peking, he can also carry messages to the
foreign Ministers If they still alive. and
without doubt the State Department, as well as
the European Prime Ministers, will seize the op-
Dortunity 10 make one test of the truth
of the latest reports respecting the safety of the
Legations.
LEGATIONS REPORTED SAFE.
London. July 17.-William Pritchard-Morga