The evening times., 1900-07-30
The DeGance From Chinn.


The Chinese news today is important and
startling. Secretary Hay has a cablegram
from Consul Fowler at Chefoo, which
states that a letter has been received from
the German Legation TO the effect that the
Chinese suspended their attack on July q.
when the Austrian. Italian. Dutch, an6
Spanish Legations had been totally and the
French Legation partially destroyed. Mr..
Fowler also reports that letter from the
japanese Legation, dated July p, reached
Tientsin, July 25. II said that ten battal-
ions of Chinese troops sheIIed the legations
necessarily from June 20 until July Il. On
that day the German. Russian. British, and
half Of the Japanese and French legations
were standing. The japanese reported
food supply for six days, but that they had
little ammunition left. The Emperor and
Empress Dowager were believed to be in
city. We assume that the japanese note
referred 10 Is the same which our morn
ing dispatches announce as coming TO the
japanese Consul at Tientsin through the
medium of a runner whom he had sent to
the capital for news. The dates do not
agree: one account givin July 10. and Mr.
Fowler's July %, but the stories have
probably an identical for ndation-
The messages on their face are more or
less convincing and NAY be genuine; but
they are still very VI satisfactory in that
they are silent concer ing the ministers
and their families. II the japanese runner
penetrated the Pe},in Legation quarter and
actually obtained the note Of July 19 or p
from Baron Nissi in person. then its genu-
ineness and the accuracy of its information
are not to be doubted. But if the messeLS ger
used a local Intermediary to secure il, the
case might be different. Ii is important
that this question should be cleared up for
TWO reasons. Firstly. if a runner from
Tientsin can get into the city. other run
ners. Of which many must have been start
ed under promises Of heavy pay. ought to
have gotten out. Secondly, we are anx-
Gus to learn how the German Legation
letter was passed through the lines by
whom il was signed and by whom received.
II is possible that tie Chinese have the Ger
man and japanese Foreign Office as we'll
as the American State Department code
books. and are able to forge such messages
as are now reported.
It viii be noted that there is marked
discrepancy between the alleged reports
from the legations and native leakages-
The Imperial edict of July "a is couched
in omino1sly sinister language. II declares
that the Government is supplying the le-
cations with food. and adds: 1t is ad
mittedIy inadvisable TO kill all the minis
ters, but it is equally unwise TO send them
TO TieLgsin. II viii be much wiser 20 keep
the survivors at Pel1in as hostages"
Accepting the probable reliability Of the
/ German ard japanese Legation notes. il
would seem to be a reasonable deduction
from the text Of the edict above quoted
that between July 10 or - and July "A,
the legations had either capitulated or had
been taken by assault and some Of the min
listers spared TO be held as hostages. 1t
is admittedly unwise to kill all the min
isters," says the edicu. 1T would be wiser
to keep the survivors at Pekin."
When We consider this language in con-
nection with the cynical observation Of Ii
Hung Chang the other day, that he was
sure the ministers, except Baron Won Ket-
teller, were safe. and that as for the other
foreigners in Pekin they were Of no i'm
portancc, the theory is at once suggested
that Ii had in his mind knowledge that for
reasons of state the chief diplomatists had
been saved from death, while their fami-
lies, suites, and guards had been massa-
cred by the Chinese soIdiery.
Whatever may be the truth, the Pekin
Government is playing a desperate card. It
now warns the powers that movement
on their part toward Pekin Will be a signal
for the murder of the survivors, II has
thrown off its mask as 10 other foreigners
and native Christians, who are ordered
butchered wherever found. Massacres are
incessant. Within the Empire. and. With
few exceptions, in positions from which
escape must be now regarded as hopeless.
there are probably two thousand Euro
peans and Americans. Horrible tortures
and death are certain to be their portion
in most instances The situation at large
is an awful one Its international aspects
are more than grave. China at last has
committed an official act Of war which this
country among others cannot ignore The
capture and confinement of a diplomatic
representative is almost as bad as his
murder 1t is at least equally declaration
of war. What viii the Administration do
about it9