New-York tribune., 1900-09-15
INTERVIEW WITH EARL H.
CHINESE STATESMAN ASKS MORE CUES
TIONs THAN HE ANSWERS

Shanghai. Sept 12.-L Hung Chang said to-
day that he would start for Tien-Tsin on Sep
tember IA that he would 60 to Peking II ctrcum-
stances demanded IT, and added that Prince
Ching and himself had full authority from the
Dowager Empress and Emperor to negotiate
settlement with the Powers. explaining that
there were no. other commissioners for China.
The audience lasted an hour, the correspondent
being the one TO whom the greater number of
injuries were made Earl Ii asked many ques
tions about the fighting at Tien-Tsin, the relief
of Peking the number of troops OF each Power
in China their disposition and fighting quail
tiles, how the foreigners approved OF the fight
ing qualities Of the Chinese, how Peking was
defended, what bodies of Chinese fought best
and expressed regret at the privations OF the
women and children IN Peking.
In the interview Ii Hung Chang asked the
correspondent IL Ministers Conger and MacDon-
aid appeared to have suffered much. and when
told that Mr. Conger had lost seventy pounds
he laughed merrily, and remarked that TINS was
"a poor recommendation for horse flesh
ENVOY ASKS MANY QUESTIONS,
Ii Hung Chang also inquired whether the cor
respondent had seen much abuse of the Chinese
mr. anv ravishtne or killing of women and chill
dren. and when told that the abuses were prac-
ticallv confined to the Russians he said this
turned to the subject of looting. being anxious
m know how much Government treasure the
allies had obtained. When informed that the
Japanese were reported to have taken 5OoOoOOO
taeIs from the revenue officers at Peking Ii
Hung Chang said: THE rumor must have
added two ciphers to the real amount"
Throushout the interview Ii Hung Chang ap-
peared to be in fine spirits, and talked as one
removed, by reason of his age and experience
from the field OF controversy He regretted all
the recent troubles and said he had no desire
except to smooth them over impartially.
Al another stage of the interview the great
Chinarnan said he deplored the fact that the
newspapers were prejudiced against him. and as
serted that this opposition originated with the
English press of Shanghai, (which Influenced
the papers of the world"
The correspondent remarked that the AmeTi'
cans had never been prejudiced against him,
whereupon Lii Hung Chang quickly demanded
why don't they accept me as negotiator?''
UNWILLING TO TALK OF TERMS.
Questions put to Ii Hung Chang concerning
the settlement which the Chinese Government
wanted to make were automatically parried.
He said:
China has her views to what settlement is
desirable and the Powers have their views. We
will meet and negotiate
Asked whether ne expected dendnQS Tor Ine
cession of territory as indemnity Lii Huns
| Chang replied:
/ am in communication with some OF the Gov
| ernments. 1 have found they have no disposition
| TO ask for land.
There is great curiosity abroad TO hear ar
| explanation OF the contradictory edicts issued
| in the name OF the Empress Dowager during
| the siege, it was said.
Ii Hung Chang meditated moment. and
then. speaking deliberately. said:
The Empress. at the beginning. was badly ad
| vised. She told that the Boxers had super
| natural powers that they could not be injured
| and were able to make 1t very hot for the
| foreigners. She believed this but afterwarC
| found IL was not true. The papers are incor
| rect in saying she coerced into issuine
| edicts The Chinese Government Is despotsm
! No one can coerce the Empress. She like al
other rulers. is dependent on her advisers, anC
| sometimes their advice Is bad, and she may b,
| misled.
| ASSURANCE OF GOOD FAITH
When the correspondent departing the in
! terpreter said:
| The Viceroy hopes you will not give a bad i'm
/ says he Is a very old mantle Oldest to TAX,
| part IN these negotiations: that he has haC
4 much experience In these affairs: that he is tn
Iwr -. NaI-