The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-26
WI ADVISES CAUTION.
Trouble, He Says, VIII Increase If
the Allies Advance Now.


the Allies Advance Now.
Minister WI Ting-fang expressed himself
as pleased with the message received yes
terday from Mr.. Conger, which he did not
doubt was authentic. He said:
1T is a confirmation of the fact that the
Ministers were alive at the date OF the
message I ask that the American people
suspend judgment. We are a different
people than you, and have different meth
obs of doing things. 1t is not fair that
you Judge us by your standards. We are
not nation of liars and deceivers. There
are good men and there are bad men in
China. There are such in America.
81 give to your people such infoTmationa as
l have, without reserve. If you do not BE-
Iieve the statements made by me, it Is not
right that you should arrive at the coz
clusion that am trying to deceive you. In
fair justice, you should reserve your opin-
ions until certain basis for conclusion
could be had. You have no right to con-
Glade that it is other than a doubtful case,
ard should suspend your Judgment until
full information can be received. Confu-
cius has taught that honesty is the best
! policy. Ii is a tenet - my belief.
IF the interview with Ii Hung Chang
! is correct as reported il the morning pa
I pers, l am of the opinion that the relief
( expedition frcm Tentsin should be de-
( layed until after the foreigners have left
/ Pekiu. The strength Of the escort neces-
/ sary 10 conduct them safely from Pekin
/ 10 Tientsin depends entirely on the OPP
| position they Will meet en- route.
! The greatest care should be taken by
I the allies to impress upon the Chinese the
! fact they are not going to Pekin. should
| they start, to destroy the city and kill the
! Chinese, but TO rescue the imprisoned Min
/ listers. Great danger lies in the probability
| that the Chinese will understand the first
! forward move 10 be one Of warfare and
| destruction of their lives, homes, and prop
/ erty. Should they get such an impression
fear they will redouble their efforts and the
| Imperial Government will no longer be able
| to prevent the massacre Of the foreigners.
I | would advise that the relief force should
not set out until after the Ministers have
/ left Pekin and then only with the distinct
| announcement that they were TO act mere
ly as an escort to the Minister'S
| An authority who IL very close to Mr..
| WI, and who is thoroughly acquainted ith
! the condition of affairs from the point of
view of the Chinese Minister, stated yes:er-
I day that no word has been received at the
/ legation since the commencement OF the
| Chinese difficulties from official circles IN
/ Pekin in explanation OF the existing Coadi-
tons.
Minister WI" said this authority, lis
reported to have been kept thoroughly ap-
prised Of all that transpired in China and
to have been fully aware of the massacre
OF the foreign Ministers. This informa-
ton he Is accused OF suppressing
! Minister WI is a gentleman and an
honest man. He would not be party to any
deceit Of this character. ! say it positive
ly, that, while he represents the Chinese
nation, he is above the duplicity of which
he has been accused. From selfish stand
point nothing is TO be gained by delay The
truth must ultimately come out, and the
Minister liz the event of his having beer
shown to have suppressed the facts would
be the object of universal contumely He
Is perfectly aware Of the fact.
Il will tell you a secret. Minister VT
has never received single line from the
authorities in China prior to his recen
request, transmitted through other hands
for information, and his memorial TO thu
throne In reply no news has been sen
| TO him. The edicts of the Emperor and tn
request for mediation have been sen
through indirect channels, but he has no
received one single message from the sea
OF Government. Why has not his Gov
eminent kept him informed as IL should
Because Of their dense ignorance OF thu
outside world, and of proper diplomatic
| nraCtice