Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-14
AN HOUR WITH Il
TALKS TRULY OVER THE SITUA-
TION-ANXIOUS FOR IMPE-
RIAL TREASURE.

Shanghai, Wednesday, Sept. 12. Copy
right by Associated Press.)-Li Hung
Chang informed representative Of the
Associated Press today that he will start
for Tien Tsin, September IA, that he will
go to Pekin if circumstances demand it,
and that Prince Ching and he 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 cor
respondent being the interviewed rather
than he intervieer. Ii asked many ques-
tions about the fighting at Tien Tsin, the
relief of Pekin, the number of troops of
each power in China, their disposition and
the fighting qualities Of the Chinese. how
Pekin was defended and what bodies Of
Chinese fought best. He expressed re-
gret at the privations of the women and
children in Pekin. During the interview.
Ii Hung Chang asked the correspondent
If Ministers Conger and Macponald ap-
peared to have suffered much and when
told that Mr.. Conger had lost seventy
pounds. he laughed merrily and remark
ed that this was "a poor Recommendation
for horse flesh" Ii also inquired wheth-
er the correspondent had seen much
abuse of the Chinese or any ravishing or
killing of women and when told that
abuses We're practically confined to the
Russians. he said that was doubtless
due to lack of discipline" and turned to
the subject of looting, being anxious to
know how much government treasure the
allies had obtained. When informed that
Japanese were reported to have taken
fifty million taels from the revenue OFF,
GERS at Pekin, Ii Hung Chang said: "The
rumor must have added two ciphers to
the real amount"
throughout the interview Ii Hung
Chang appeared to be in fine spirits and
talked as one removed by reason of his
age and experience, from the field OF
connection.
He regretted all the recent troubles
and said he had no desire except to
'smooth them over impartially."
AT another stage of the interview. Ii
Hung Chang said he deplored the fact
that the newspapers were preJudiced
against him and asserted that this Op-
position originated with the English
press of SHANGHAI, which influenced the
papers of the world.
The correspondent remarked that the
Americans had never been prejudlced
against him, whereupon Ii Hung Chang
quickly demanded: why don't they ac-
cept me as negotiator?"
Questions put to Ii concerning the set
tlement which the Chinese government
wanted to make were automatically
parried. He said: China has her views
as to what settlement is desirable. and
the powers have their views. We will
meet and negotiate"
Asked whether he expected demands
for cession of territory as indemnity, Ii
Hung Chang replied: i am in comn1u-
nication with some of the governments.
I have found they have no disposition
to seek for land"
The correspondent said: 'There is
great curiosity abroad to hear an ex-
PLANTATION of the contradictory edicts
issued in the name of the doWager em-
press during the SIEGE"
Ii Hung Chang meditated moment.
and then, speaking deliberately, said:
"The empress, at the beginning, was
badly advised. She was told the Boxers
had supernatural powers; that they
could not be injured. and were able to
make it very hot for the foreigners. She
believed this. but afterwards found it
was not true. The papers are incorrect
in saying she was coerced into issuing
edicts. The Chinese government is deS-
potiSm. No one can coerce the en-
press. She, like all other rulers, is de-
pendent on her advisers. and sometimes
their advice is bad and she may be mis-
led
When the correspondent was leaving,
the interpreter said:
"The viceroy hopes you will not give a
bad impre ssion-of him to the American
papers. He says he is a very old man.
the oldest to take part in these affairs:
that he has had much experience in
these affairs; that he is the only man
who can help the foreign governments
as well as the Chinese. and that he will
try and arrange a settlement fair to all
parties"