Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-30
THROWING OFF MASK
China Believed to Be Holding Min
listers as Hostages.
INTENTION TO STOP ALLIES ADVANCE
Ii Hung Chang Will Promise to
Pardon the Boxc 5.
Pc r PIE KING SITUATION

LONDON. July 30.-The latest news from
! the far east seems consistent with the
theory that the Chinese government has
the foreign ministers alive, but that il means
10 treat them as hostages. while The stories
OF massacre relate to other members of the
foreign colony in Pekin. Chinese Official
dom, it Is alleged, openly speaks Of the
I ministers as hostages. whose fate depends
upon the decision of the powers in relation
TO the threatened advance on Pekin. Re
ports are multiplying that a number of for
eigners Were alive TO a late date. Thus
Rome reports that the Propaganda Eide
has been assured Of the safety Of Bishop
Favin, while telegram from Nankin in
forms his family that Prince Cas- ami of the
Italian legation is alive. There is no con-
| firmation Of the various favorable state
ments, however. forthcoming from really
Independent sources
AngIO-Chinesc Alliance Declined
A telegram from Shanghai reports, on the
authority of a Briton who had been for
many years In the service of the vceroy of
Nankin, that prior to the framing of the
Yang-tse agreement with the consuls the
viceroy suggested Angio-Chinese occupation
of the Yang-tse defenses, but Great Britain
declined.
1t is reported al Shanghai that the powers
have again proposed. through Ii Hung
Chang, the peaceful surrender Of the Woo
sung forts and Kianguan arsenal. but that
the Chinese regard the proposal breach
Of the existing agreement.
Will Promise Pardon to Doxers.
Ii Hung Chang is understood to be pre-
pairing proclamation for distribution as
he travels toward Chill. assuring the
Boxers of pardon if they disband and re-
a homes
The Latest Imperial EdIct
The Shanghai correspondent of the Lon
don Daily Express. telcgraphing yesterday,
said:
"A new imperial edict promulgated this
evening urgently orders all viceroys and
provincial governors to endeayor to nego-
tiate peace with the powers whose minis
tiers are held as hostages pending the re-
suit Of the overturcs for the abandonment
OF hostilities against China.
The yiceroys are also comman nded to
guard their territories vigilantly against at
tack and to prevent by all means In their
power, the advance OF the foreign troops.
especially along the Yangtse kiang. Tho
decree says that the officials will answer
with their lives for any failure TO execute
these orders.
Commands are also given that not a
single foreigner shall be allowed 10 escape
from the interior, where there are still fully
2op Europeans. connected with missionary
work, in isolated situations.
When the governor of Sh2ntunE commu-
nicated to the consuls the imperial decree
Of July "a he omitted the following i'm
portant passages addressed to Ii Hung
Chang:
1t is admittedly inadvisable to kill all
the ministers, but it is equally unwise 10
send them 10 Tien Tsn. 1t VIII he much
wiser to keep the survivors at PeKin as
hostages
You are commanded to hasten to Pc
kin. You are incurring imperial dspleas-
ure by delay. You have been appointed
viceroy Of Chilli. because. with your mill
tary experience. you will successfully lead
the imperial armies against the foreigners
in Chilli, which Yu Lu. the present vice
roy, is unable to do. owing to his ignor-
ance of military affairs
Lii Hung Chang replied to this edict.
asking to be allowed to retire on account
of his age
Will XIII Them All.
The Chinese legation in Berlin has re-
ceived a message from Sheng, director gen.
eral of railways and telcgraphs. saying tnat
he has received dispat atch from Pekin an
nouncing that Ger. Tung Fuh Slang threat
ems to kill all the members Of the legations
il the international forces advance upon
Pekin
Evidently the legation is embarrassed by
the receipt of this dispatch. as the Chinese
minister has not communicated ii to the
German government.
The legation has cabled the viceroy of
Nankin, requesting him to try to get infor4
nation as to whether the widow of Baron
Won kettelcr, the murdered German min
lister. is still alive.
Shanghai and ChefOo Connected.
NEW YORK, July 30.-The cable COM
panies send out the following notice:
I'VE are advised that communication be-
tween Shanghai and Chefoo is restored