The age-herald., 1900-07-23
In His Opinion Americans Take
 Common Sense Course.
USUAL CROP SHANGHAI RUM0RS
Secretary Admits That Communications With Pekin Have Been Practical ly stablished-Thinks Mys-
 tery Will Soon be Solved

London, July 23, A M.-The Chinese minister in London took the unusual steb yesterday of paying Sunday call at tha foreign office. As Lord Salisbury was ab, sent the visit was without special result, but it's importance may be gathered from an interview with the secretary of the Chit nese legation, Sir Halliday Mccartney, in which the legation officials seem to haVs assumed at last something like personal responsibility.
 Sir Halliday admitted that communicaA ton had been practically opened with PaS kin and that messages from Sir Claude Macdonald, the British minister, and the other foreign envoys might be expected almost immediately. He said he hoped the trouble would soon be over, since the Chi- nese government was doing it's utmost to | overcome the difficulties and to, check tho 1 lawless element.
 In his opinion the Americans had taken | the most common sense view of the sit> l uation, and he insisted that China ought | not to be misjudged. Against the suspicion | that Lii Hung Chang had any but sin. cere pacific object in view he protested warmly, declaring that all stories about the perfidy and treachery of Ii were "abs | solutely baseless."
 With regard to the prospects in the | Southern provinces, the secretary admin | ted that there might be small outbreaks, 1 but he said there would be nothing serfs 1 ous, and that Europeans would be quite l safe in treaty ports. The long silence he explained as due probably to the rebels, who have cut the wires and blocked the roads,"
 Few More Days
 Thus, according to the secretary of the Chinese Legation, few more days should bring a solution of the great mystery, Nevertheless, no one in England believes that the alleged dispatches and edicts are anything but subterfuses to hide the real situation long as possible and to avert retribution by sowing discord among the powers.
 From Shanghai come a report that the Empress Dowager and the Court are nov. ing to Hsian Flu, in the Province of Shan Si, to which large stores of rice are being sent, and that when these arrangements are completed, the remaining Viceroys will declare against foreigners.
 According to the Che Flo correspondent of the Daily Mail, the fall of Tien Tsn has so disheartened the Chinese that they are seeking terms of peace. He says that several attempts have been made to send messages to Pekin, but so far without any known results, and adds that rumors are again current that the Russians reach- ing Pekin from the north It is impossible tc confirm or deny these statements, but either might explain China's efforts to gain time.
 Ii Hung Changs visit to Shanghai seems to be a complete failure Except the Chinese customs officials one has visited him. Sheng, the Tao Tai (chief magis- trate) gave the Consuls cordial invitation to meet him at luncheon, but all declined
 The Shanghai correspondent of the Daily Express pretends to have authority for the assertion that Great Britain will repudiate any credentials Ii Hung Chang may bring from the Empress Dowager, and he adds:
 Russia Willing to Make Terms
 Russia, however, is willing to make terms with Ii Hung Chang, whose mis. sion is to SOW dissention among the pow CTS The British, German and American representatives were resolute against re. ceiving him. The Shanghai correspondent of the Daily Mail declares that the Chinese officials are thoroughly frightened by the fall of Tien Tsn and desire to open nego- tiations"
 Therefore," he continues, although all are aware of the horrible Pekin massacreS) every official, down to the humbest re- tainer, has been sworn to secrecy under the penalty of wholesale executions should the details leak out. They hope if the pow CTS once begin negotiations, to stop the military operations and that matters might cool down."
 There is the usual crop of Shanghai ruy mors at hand this morning One is that Prince Tuan has been abducted and that the Empress Dowager is again supreme.
 The Tien Tsn correspondent of the Daily Mail says the allies have issued a proclas nation announcing that they are not fight ing China, but only the rebels who have been guilty of attacks on the foreigners The decision to keep the Indian division at Hong Kong is supposed to be due to the disquieting proceedings of the black iagp at Canton. It is said that the Taku fortf are being rearmed by the Chinese with quick firing Krupps and large stores of ammunition, and that the Chinese afa mounting guns and laying torpedoes at various advantageous points between woo