Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-07-04
He is uot0liolsly Opposed
to Foreigners,
GERMAN MINISTER
REPORTED MURDERED
There Are No Ameliorating
Circumstances --Gov-
ernment at Pekln
is Very Rotten.

|
Washington, July 1.--Today'f
advices to the state department
made up of two kilograms from
Consul General Goodnow at
Shanghai the foreign ministers at
Pekin along one day further in
safety, showing that they were
still alive with the probable ex.
ception of the German minister,
who it seems likely has been
murdered soma days prior to the
latest advicus.some encouragement
is drawn by the officials from the
fact that other ministers were alive
on the later date for officials be-
lieve that the diplomatic corps at
Pakin could not have been
preserved through the fury of the
first stages of the outbreak only to
fall victims to sober second
thought. There is also at least
the indication that the Chinese
government it self was protecting
them.
On the other hand, the state
ments that the notoriously anti
foreign Prince Tuan was in com.
plete control at Pekin, was regard.
as all exceedingly grave develop
ments tending to fix clearly the
responsibility for the happenings
of the past three weeks directly
upon the Pekin government. An
ameliorating fact is the refusal of
the great viceroys, themselves of
almost absolute power in their
provinces, to be controlled from
Pekin in their attitude toward
foreigners.
A high official of the state de-
partment said today that there is
nothing now to do but to follow
out the course the state department
already has adopted, namely, to
have the United States consuls
put themselves in communication
with the viceroys of the provinces; !;
treating the central government at
Pekin as incapacitated for ad-
ministrative work and meanwhile
doing ell in their power to protect
the foreigners in their respective
districts. The signs of an amica-
ble disposition on the part of
these viceroys is probably the
basis for the hope that they can be
induced at least to stand neutral
and keep their provinces in order
if it shall be necessary to direct
hostilities energetically against
the Pekin government.
This course seems to be abso-
lutely necessary now, unless
developments in the immediate
future demonstrate the in.
accuracy of Consul General
Goodnow's advices relative to the
status of affairs at Pekin. There
is authority for the statement that
our government feels that what
must be done at once is to drive
forward a relief force to Pekin,
regardless of the strength required.
So far it has not been regarded
as necessary to do more in the way
of military preparations to this
end than has been done, and
consequently no further reinforce
ments have been ordered to Taku.
There is doubt here as to the
sufficieucy of the force now there
to undertake the work.
Admiral Kempff yesterday re-
ported that IA, 600 men of all arms
were ashore, without stating
definitely where they were. 1t is
not known whether or not the ae-
cond expedition directed against
Pekin has yet started from Taku
or Tien Tsin. In this etate of
ignorance as to the military situa-
ton. it is not possible to act intelli-
gently from Washington in the
direction of adding TO our naval
and military strength beyond the
sailors, marines ard regular
soldiers already under orders for
China. It would seem that to
accomplish effective work some
kind of an understanding must lie
reached among the powers interest
beyond the rather vague oneunder
which they are now proceeding.
A small foreign force made up
of different natioDalities working
,lo, tonr;bIo 1,pdorota ipu