The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-22
Would BE Military Suicide, 1t is Said,
to Start Unprepared for a
Long Campaign.
VIEWS OF A FRENCH OFFICIAL
THINKS THE POWERS ARE FACE TO
FACE WITH A PROBLEM.
Birth of Patriotism in China Will
Weld the People Together-No
Break in the Accord of Powers.
Icopyright. 1000. by the Associated Press.l


LONDON, July 21-The request of Sec
retary of State Hay to the powers to make
an immediate forward movement on Pek-
ing is not likely to meet with any success
in England. Lord Salisbury is just as
eager as the American secretary of state
to adopt such a step, but he is practically
convinced that it will be impossible until
September, owing to local conditions and
the allies lack of equipment. Beyond
courteous reply that England is willing to
cooperate with any movement that the
commanders on the spot may deem advisa-
bic, nothing is likely to come of the latest
American effort to reach the Chinese cap
ital, for all official advices received here
indicate that dash toward Peking in the
immediate future would be military sui
eide The governments attitude may be
described as philosophic determination TO
grin and bear it, hoping for the best, yet
fearing the worst until troops and climatic
conditions enable the powers to enter
Peking and ascertain without a shadow
of doubt the extent and cause OF
China's present disintegration Until that is
accomplished every opinion worth repeat
ing is suspended not only regarding the
future of China, but also as TO the nature
and severity of the retribution to be ex-
acted.
Meanwhile, English journals, who are
bound to express opinions of some sort, and
a majority of the English people, who
unable to restrain their feelings in the face
of this far Eastern horror. declare that in
so great an emergency no risk is too great
and couple with this a sentiment of genu-
1f off oil
leviate the situation, especially as regards
sending w. w. Rockhill as a special COM
missioner to China, and in the attempts to
communicate with Minister Conger, and
the sensible methods employed in diplo-
matte endeavors to provide the allies with
a common basis of action. Between what
is generally termed the lethargy in Down
ing street and the activity at Washington
there are many comparisons drawn that
have all the sting of acute self-criticism.
Minister Conger's telegram has intro
duced into the situation, already replete
with uncertainties and perplexities, a still
further element of doubt that has turned
the experts completely topsy-turvey. The
greatest sufferer in this respect is John
Colet, the venerable dean of st. Paurs. A
few hours after the Associated Press dis
patch giving the news of the receipt of a
message from Minister Conger was pub
lished the government issued notice that
the deans projected memorial service on
Monday for the victims of the Peking
massacre was undertaken without its
sanction.
simultaneously letters appeared in the
papers from relatives of those at Peking,
saying the dean had exhibited indecent
haste. while the aristocratic Morning Post
denounced the cathedral dignitary in terms
almost as strong as it had applied to the
Boxers themselves, whereupon the dean
got up his back and declared that it was
too late to cancel the service. but that,
owing TO pressure from high quarters to-
day he had consented to indefinitely post
pone it.
According to the Statist Russia is likely
to bear the brunt of the financial burden
of the Chinese crisis, account of the
probability that that government would be
obliged to incur lage outlay to protect
Siberia, while if the government should
attempt to hold Machuria the output would
be still greater. This, the Statist says.
however, would benefit other European
markets as ''the probability is that much
Russian gold will have to be sent to Lon
don, Paris and Berlin, partly to meet the
| interest of the Russian debt held abroad
and partly to pay all the obligations Rus
| sia has already entered into or is about to
enter into. In that way the money markets
may be relieved to greater extent than is
now calculated, for If Russia let's go of
say twenty or thirty millions sterling it
will be an immense addition 10 the funds in
the markets of Europe" The Statist also
says II is likely the Bank of France will
raise the discount rate TO Sis per cent. and
declares that the position of Germany is
| greatly improved.