The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-13
CtrcuIntton Statement.
Alarming News From China.

Alarming News From China.
The late news from China is not only
disquieting; it is positively alarming. Ma
tive runners employed by the allies, who
left Pekin on August I, arriving at Tien-
tsin August 6, report that the Chinese
planted two batteries on the city wall on
July 50 and had sheIIed the legations con-
tinually for two days, when they started
The Tsung- Yamen, apparently encour-
aged by the willingness of Russia to allow
her minister TO leave Pekin under Chinese
escort, has complained to the French For
eign Office of the Hardness Of the foreign
ministers in Pekin in replying to the offer
of the Chinese Government to conduct
them under escort" The message declares
that the Tsung-li-Yamen declines to be
responsible for any casualties which might
follow these DELAYS.
This notice from the Board OF Foreign
Affairs of the responsible Government of
China is essentially and in terms an ulti-
matum, although. so far, it has not been
accepted as such by France. NJ. Delcasse
has replied that no order to leave Pekin
will be issued to the French Minister as
long as the route is unsafe. If a casualty
occurs the responsibility will be entirely
with the Chinese Government. ItsNstrict
duty is to protect foreign ministers even
more than ITSELF
We have a short despatch from Minister
Conger, dated August 1, and transmitted
by General Chaffee from Tsaitsun. eight
miles north of Yangtsun and probably the
advanced post Of the relief column. In it
Mr.. Conger says: We will hold out until
your arrival Hope IL Will be soon" The
Chinese Maritime Customs Office in Lon
don has a message from Sir Robert Hart,
dated Pekin, August >, which reads: The
sooner we can be got out of this the bet
ter, for it is inconvenient for the Chinese
Government and unsafe for ourselves"
In some quarters there is a disposition
10 construe Sir Robert HaTt's language in
this despatch as indicating that the Impe-
rial Government is trying TO shield the
legation people, but has difficulty in doing
So Il should be remembered, however,
that Hart himself is a high Chinese Off
cial, and, while he continues in that reIa-
ton to the Pekin authorities. is bound to
assume their good faith or suffer death.
There is, therefore. apparently no ground
for encouragement in his text.
The edict appointing Ii Hung Ehang as
peace envoy and ordering him TO telegraph
the powers for an immediate cessation of
hosti!ities, was presented 10 the Stare De-
partment yesterday morning, aud within
seven hours reply was forwarded. I fiis
Government promptly refused 10 consider
any overtures in advance Of Clina's COM
pliance with the third demand of Mr. Nc
Kin!ey's Canton address to the throne of
July %, which was that the Pekin Gov
eminent should secure the safety of the
ministers and foreigners by operation
with the relief expedition.
Considering the edict, which is dated
August s, in connection with the renewed
attack upon the legations between July so
and August D, and The Chinese uItfmatum
addressed 10 France it does not appear on
the surface Of things that the Empress
Dowager has reached the point of submits
sion. That she may yet do so, in view of
the determined advance Of the allies, and
their repeated victories over her best
troops. is Of course possible, and. in Ad-
ministration circles. is regarded as proba-
pie The official reason for hope in this
1he defeat of the Chinese army at Yang
tsun and that that fact may indicate reali-
cation Of the consequences that would en-
sue upon the bombardment of Pekin and
its capture by the allies But, in view Of
renewal Of the artillery attack upon the
legations, it is quite as probable that the
peace movement may be merely a su5ter-
fuge TO gain time with the idea of de-
stroying the foreigners and affording
chance for the Empress Dowager and court
10 escape into the interior
For two months the Imperial Chinese
Government has been firing upon cur dag
and using every effort to butcher our min
ister and other citizens imprisoned in Pe
Ain. let, because the Administration is
afraid TO have Congress on its hands in the
middle of a Presidential! campaign, such a
situation must not be considered. as eon,
shutting "a state of war" What inroads
politics can make upon official con-
sciences, even where the Constitution IS
mandatory and cur plain duty" obvious,