Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-28
continued on their way there. He didn't
know whether that was so or not.

continued on their way there. He d:dn t
know whether that was so or not
kempff Locates SeymOur's Forces.
The following cabegram was received
at the Navy Department late yesterday
afternoon:
"CHEFOO, June %.
Secretary Navy, Washington:
''Pekin force and ministers reported with
Pekin relief expedition. entrenched eight
mics from Tien Tsn. kEMPFF.
The keenest interest is shown by the
officials to learn the conditions under
which the ministers left Pekin- The
dispatches of Admiral kempff and the
Chinese minister were ominouSly silent on
that point. and though the minister him.
self maintains almost obst1nately his con-
fidence in the non-existence of a state of
war. it is generally admitted that it will
be difficult to accept his conclusion If 1t
shall transpire that the Pekn government
has itself sent the ministers away with
their passports. or what may come to the
same thing. with a guard as safe con-
duct. At the State Department it is said
that if it shall be explained that the i'm
perial government did this, not with
purpose of rupturing diplomatic relations.
but simply to insure the safety of the min
listers, which they were unable to guarantee
long as they remained in Pekin. then
there Is still ground for an understanding.
1t Is. however, pointed out that In such
case the self-confessed inability of the inn
perial government to maintain peace and
OTueT at Ine capital WOuiu amount " an
admission of its utter failure as a govern
ment and would leave China in a state
worse than that of actual war In either
event 1t now appears to the satisfaction of
the officials that there was justification
for such Intervention as we have offered
in China.
The Departure From Pekfn.
Administration officials are not certain
just what construction to place In
spector General Hart's dispatch stating
that the foreign Legations had been de-
sired to leave Pekin within twenty-four
hours. A charitable view of the Chinese
governments action, with the suggestion
that this view was bare possibility. was
that the step was taken with the kindest
Intentions: that the government. realizing
the continued presence of the foreigners
in the capital during the existence of the
serious conditions existing there might re-
suit in bodily harm to them, had asked
them to seek other locations which might
offer greater safety. At the same time it
ports in a crisis like the present was prac-
tically valueleSS. A more serious view of
the matter, however. taken by some Off
cials, Is that the ministers have been given
their passports because of the acts of the
allied forces in forcing the surrender of
the Taku forts. AT the same time the state
ment is reiterated that we are not at war
with China.
A Map of China.
Major Simpson, chief of the bureau of
Information of the War Department, is en-
gagged In the preparation of a map of
China, which will show that part of the
empire In which the present trouble is be
ing experienced. immense difficulties be
ing encountered in obtaining accurate in
formation with respect not only to the
topography of the country, but also as to
the telegraph and railway lines.