New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-07-23
FEAR AND HOPE IN ENGLAND
STRONG ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF MIN
ISTERS' SAFETY
Copyright: 1900: BY The New-York Tribune.
[BY CABLE TO TIE TRIBUNE

Copyright; 1900 BY The New York Tribune.l
IBY CABLE TO TIE TRIBUNEI
London. July %, 1 a. m-There was no de-
eisive news from China at midnight and a feel
ing Of distrust pervaded Fleet Street and the
clubs respecting Mr.. Congers message and the
series Of official dispatches from Che-Foo and
Shanghai which has followed IT, These dis
patches have been received at several of the
Continental capitals and are of the same tenor
as those given out by the Chinese Ministers at
Washington and London. The Ministers are re-
ported 10 be safe and well and the Imperial
Government is credited with measures for pro-
tecting and rescuing them. These versions are
not in accord with Mr.. Congers own account Of
the desperate state of the legations. whatever
may have been the date Of his dispatch, and the
safety Of the Ministers will remain in doubt
until they themselves confirm the reassuring
reports OF the Chinese viceroys
The English attitude of unreasoning unbelief re-
specting everything coming from official sources
IN The provinces is however. not justified by in
herent probabilities. Leader writers who are
cracking jokes over the credulity Of their Amer
ican cousins in swallowing Chinese dates whole
will find IL difficult explain the motive Of the
Imperial Government in either forging or rails
ing the date of Mr.. Congers dispatch and in
want0nly deceiving one Power after another
with false assurances Of the safety of the Iega-
tons Until some ineligible motive for such
insensate treachery is supplied it would seem
prudent to give TO the Imperial Government
credit for telling at least part of the truth.
GOOD GROUND FOR oPTIMIsTs.
Optimist views are confined to small circles
here. but several plausible reasons are as
signed for them. One is the evacuation of the
country around Tien-Tsin by Chinese troops,
since it implies a decline OF Boxer fanaticism.
Another is the quieting down in southern prov
inces, for the reports Of risings at Canton and
disturbances caused by the Black Flags are
sun unconhrmed. Another is Ii Hung Chang's
journey northward, which will be continued
from Shanghai for he would hardly venture to
pass through the allied fleets and camps the
new Governor of Pe-Chi-Li if he were not as
sured Of the safety OF the Ministers. To these
reasons is added inherent probability that the
Imperial Government would not stultify itself
py silly mendacity If the Ministers had been
nassacred. but would identify itself with sue
cessful rebellion in the end it had done in
The beginning.
Thoughtful men, reasoning from these prem
Sss. are disposed to believe that the Empress
Dowager. after haIting between Prince Tuan
ana Prince Ching, has succeeded in enforcing
Ter authority and in protecting the remnant OF
lhe legations. for not even the most sanguine
oplmist is prepared 10 admit that assaults as
NNNOaa44leQ as 1nOse described Dy pII INODCib
hart and Mr.. Conger have not been attended
With Severe loss Of life.
MAJORITY GIVE UP HOPE.
This view represented the hopeful minority of
eiubmen and officials in town last night The
majority still considered it impossible that Mr..
Donger's message could have been sent In less
man two days from Peking TO Shan-Tung. or
mat II was written on last Wednesday. and
Asy attached no Importance to any bulletins or
guarantees from a viceroy after a full month
y Woniscuous mendacity.
news from China was light yesterday, since
e massacre mongers had been silenced by the
,posistent reports from the viceroys that the
'sstlons were safe. There were two important
+OhiE One was the decision that the second
-Lo'sn brigade should remain at Hong Kong,
NicA implied either that danger was appre-
aenoed there or that the necessity for rein
ie1hg the allied camp at Tien-Tsin was less
sent than il had been. The second point was
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