The evening times., 1900-07-31

at Taku awaiting the unloading OF their
equipment, and according to General Chat
fees message. this win take a week
A report received at the War Department
today states that there are now 4.5oO
American troops at Taku and Tientsia.
making total for the allied forces Of
about S2.0OO, 1t is believed that the ad-
vance may be made today, even without
the Sixth Cavalry. and the Department
officials are inclined to believe this. as
July SO-was originally the date selected.
Minister WI Defends China.
The Chinese Minister called at the state
Department this morning and dictated 20
the newspaper correspondents the follow
ing statement;
= am glad that after all direct news
has come from Sir Claude Macdonald and
from the German and japanese Legations
70 the effect that they were alive up to
the 22d. This conc'zsively eorro5orates
all the news that has some from the Chi
Rese officials and from the Chinese Gov
ernment. Before this news came many Of
the papers in this country and the press
generally in Europe did not believe the
Chinese statements. but adhered 20 the
opinion that massacre Of all the foreign
ministers had taken place in Pekin.
Notwithstanding the solemn assurances
Of cur Government in the form Of an edIct
saying that with the exception Of Baron
Ketteler they were alive and being SUP
piled with fruit. vegetables. and p-oYis-
ions. they had come TO this conclusion
merely upon presumption and probabilities
without positive facts. and when they were
eontradicted by positive assertions and as
suranoes from our Government. they sJiIl
would not change their opinion It is the
general rule 70 presume every MAJ Is IN
noceut Until he is foand guilty. but with
regard 70 the Chinese they presume all ere
gaiIty until they are proven innocent
the reverse CT the rule They believe ev-
thing thai is black against the Chinese.
7 vas astouIshed the other day Vhgn NY
attention was called 10 a letter written by
a clergyman who said he had been residing
In China Tor dlty years. and that h be
Heve1 the massacre had taken place aid
that Minister wa should he h=ld r-s1o-si-
be and Re arrested People in this coun-
try and ia Europe naturally look TO those
Of their couutrynen who have hsen in Chi
ne to assist them in forming correct opin-
ions about events happening n that eoun-
try. but if -Eex had TO rely upon men o.
that character. like those have men
toned. they are awfuIiy misled. and "
willingly 6oing grzat injustice 70 China
---his shows The importance G. exercising
caution urd discretion ln judging matters
concerning the East especially China. In
tziz case q grosz injustice has been set up
on China as a nation and serious corze-
quencss might have happened if the great
power. had acted upon such absurd ~
me-s aad conclusions I think that those
parp.e and those papers that have done Us
this injustice should in fairness do what
they can to acknowledge their mistake. IN
regard 20 what may happen in TIE future
I hope more caution and care viii be taken
in judging Us. It is : lesson TO them not
70 take unsupported statements as gospel
and shows that We can and do tell the
truth as much as the people Of other na-
;ions"
1-II Not Accept Compromise.
TIE Government viii not be surprised if
formal proposition IS received from Chi
IA TO deliver the ministers Into the hands
Of TIC allies. based on the condition that
the campaign against Pekin be abandoned.
The utterauces Of L! Hung chang and
statements coming from c-Eer Chinese Off
ciaI sources have indicated tAat some such
proposition IS likely 20 be placed before
+ the powers. But the Government IS taking
no oncia. notice OF these "fze-srs-
IN advance os the receipt Of any formal
proposition from the Chinese Government
to deliver Up the foreign ministers 10 the
allies n Pckin on condition that the cam
paign against the capital be abandoned.
the semi-oficiaI announcement is made
that the United States Government viii
rot become a party to any such conditional
arrangement or to any arrangement ~ all
concerning the removal os the ministers
from Pekin until it has been first placed
in fuu and free communication with Nr.
Coager and has obtained his views or those
Of the responsible American representa-
tive in Mr.. Conger's place.
If the American representative should
favor the project Of the delivery OF the for
eigners 10 the allies. the Government
would probably follow his advice, but ta-s
statement cannot be made positively. as
the matter has not been seriously consid-
cred. aad will not be. unless formally
brought to the Governments attention
The present disposition Of the Government
I It IS learned, is not to enter into any cen
ditional arrangement with tn C-iaese
Under their treaty Obligations, and the OBJ
liz t.ors Of international intercourse. they
must protect the diplomatic and consular