The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-18
NOT RETURNING 70 PEK|N
CHINESE COURTS PRESENT INTEN-
T1ON is TO REMAIN AT
SIAN-FU
MR.. WI CALLS ON M'KINLEY
Conveys the Thanks of the Emperor
of China for the Course Taken
by the United
States.


WASHINGTON, Oct T-Minister WI
called upon the president this morning.
Upon leaving the White house the min
lister said he had conveyed to the presi-
dent a message from the emperor of
China, thanking President Mckinley for
the consideration shown by the United
States during the Chinese trouble. The
minister also brought a dispatch from
Shanghai from the southern viceroys,
stating that the imperial party had
reached Tung-Kuan, only a few miles
from Sian-Fu, the new capital, on the
18th inst
Referring to the report from Pekin
that the edict for the punishment of GER
tain Chinese officials had been forged,
Minister WI said such a story was pre-
posterous, and should receive no credence
whatever. If any one should issue false
decree of that character it would be very
easy, he said, to ascertain his identity,
and he certainly would be beheaded.
The advices received by Minister WI
give no indication of a purpose on tie
part. of the royal family to return to
Pekin, although there is reason to be-
lieve that efforts continue 10 be made
to induce the emperor to return to the
capital The emperor has heretofore sent
messages of thanks to the car of Rus
sia and the emperor of Japan for the
course their governments have pursued,
and the message to the president is along
the same lines.
1t is a very unusual thing for min
lister to communicate directly with the
president. Only the accredited represent
ative of a foreign power, having the rank
of ambassador, according to diplomatic
usage, can hold a personal audience with
the president for the tranaction of diplo-
matte business, but the unusual charac-
ter Of the message which Minister WI
had to convey warranted the departure
from ordinary diplomatic custom. After
delivering the message, for which the
president expressed his gateful thanks,
the president and Minister WI talked for
some time about the situation in China.
WAR DEPARTMENT CONFERENCE.
Secretary Hay spent some time at the
war department this morning, in confer
ence with Secretary Root after which
he went to the White house. From this
it was inferred that there were some mill
tary developments in the Chinese situa-
ton, although no statement was made
from officials. Russia's determine ton to
pursue a policy Independent Of the other
powers is regarded by officials as a most
important development in the situation.
In the absence of official details those in
authority are in doubt as to whether this
Russian stroke is designed to insure Rus
sian occupation Of the Manchuria, or
only another move in the pacific tenden-
cies which the czar's government has
given expression to, beginning with the
announcement of the withdrawal of Rus
sian troops from Pel1in. AS to Russian
designs on Manchuria, it is being recall
ed that in the Russian note of Aug. Is
that government specifically stated:
Russia will not fail to withdraw her
troops from within the boundaries of the
adjacent empire, provided, however, that
action of other powers shall not stand
in the way
There is a strong impression in official
quarters that the entire trend of Rus
sian action is toward the ultimate ac-
QUESTION Of Manchuria as part Of the Rus
sian domain
The French charge d'affaires, M. THE
baut, called at the state department to-
day and had a conference with Secre-
tary Hay. 1t is understood that he pre-
sented memorandum proposing that the
peace negotiations with China begin i'm
mediately with the favorable action of
the powers on the recent note of the
French government. Mr. Thiebaut also
made known the satisfactory character
of the answers received from the several
governments, and pointed out the desir-
ability of having action taken at once to
carry out the several points on which
the powers have been brought into agree
ment.