The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-05
Tutor of the Heir Apparent Made One
of the Commissioners to Treat
with the Allied Powers
ALLEGED SECRET COMPACT
RUSSO-GERMAN ALLIANCE AGAINST
BRITAIN AND JAPAN.
None of the European Nations Ready
ito Approve the American Pro-
pOsaI-Latest Imperial Edicts.

LONDON, Sept s. Ais a. m.-To-day's
DISPATCHES from Shanghai and Tien-Tsin re-
fer to the hopeless confusion and misman-
agement of the Chinese telegraph system
which may probably account in part Tor
the delay in getting news from Pekins
Another reason for the delay doubtless is
the anxiety of the Chinese authorities TO
procure the evacuation of the capital. NO
effort is being spared by them to bring
this about Their idea is that should the
foreign ministers in Peking be allowed Tree
communication with their governments the
full extent of the completely of the Chinese
government in the aEti-foreign outrages
would be revealed and would lead the ailes
to decide to remain until further retriou-
ton had been exacted. All kilograms have
to be conveyed by courier from Tsi-Nan-
Flu to Peking, and probably all cipher dis
patches have been stopped.
According to the Shanghai advices. Lii
Hung Chang wired the Chinese minister
in London as follows: "Our st. Petersburg
minister has persuaded Russia to leave Pc
king. You are useless if you cannot per-
suade England" 1t is asserted that Earl
Ii has promised Russia three Manchurian
provinces # she secures the withdrawal OF
the allied forces from Peking and favorable
peace terms from the powers. Both the
Empress dowager and Ii Hung Chang are
said to be lavishing money to attain these
objects.
Shanghai reports that an imperial edict
issued at Tai-Yuan-Fu appoints Ii Hung
Chang, Yung Lu. Hsu Tung tutor of the
heir apparently and Prince Ching commits
sioners to negotiate peace.
There is no sign as yet of any decision
on the part of the powers regarding the
Russian proposals. The Japanese papers
unreservedly condemn the idea of evacuat-
ing Peking, and hint that there is secret
compact between Germany and Russia to
the detriment of Great Britain and Japan.
The unmistakabe condemnation of the pro-
posal to Immediately withdraw from Pc
king, which is voiced from all the foreign
colonies in the far East, is taken in some
quarters as forecast of the opinion which
may be expected from the ministers when
their views are obtainable. AS already
suggested, the Russian proposals are capa-
BILE of modification, and 1t is thought In
well-informed circles that Lord Salisbury
is striving to conform them more closely
to the terms first formulated by the gov
ernment at Washington.
RUSSIA NOT SEEKING TERRITORY.
According to a special dispatch from St
Petersburg, dealing with the question of
Manchuria, the Russian officials repudiate
any intention to permanently occupy or
annex Manchuria. The dispatch adds that
Russia will claim no territorial concessions.
doing, and expresses the hope that the
question of indemnities can be settled by
the cooperation of the allied powers.
The Moscow correspondent of the Stand
ard, referring to the horrible accounts of
Russian brutality at Blagovestchensk after
the bombardment, says: 1T is said that
the Cossacks mercilessly butchered men,
women and children in the villages on the
.Amur river and flung their corpses into the
stream. The stories are confirmed by an
Official order just issued couched in mild
tone admitting the massacres, which are
described as caused by evaporation against
the Chinese for beginning hostilities and
threatening the utmost severity of martial
law for any future violence to unarmed,
peaceful Chinamen, at the same time order
ing the police throughout the Amur district
to compel the town and country populations
to drag the Chinese corpses out of the river
and bury or burn them in order TO prevent
an outbreak of Infection" The correspon-
dent adds: This order reads like a free
warrant for the massacre of any Cinnamon
whom the Cossscks may provoke into a
quarrel or prove TO be in possession of
arms.'
Proof that Emperor Kwang Hsu is still
completely under the thumb of the Empress
IS supplied by the Shanghai correspondent
of the Times who writes: "An imperial
edict, dated Aug. 49, while en- route for Tai
Yuen-Fu, addressed 10 Ii Hung Chang, in
the Emperor's name, explains that, in view
of the dangers of foreign assault on Pek-
ing. the Emperor felt it his duty to comply
with the wishes of the Empress and to
accompany her westward, after instructing
Yung Lu, Hsu Tung and Tsung Shi TO re-
main in the capital and TO carry on the
government Now fearing that the powers
are incensed and unwilling to propose a
peaceful settlement, the Emperor ordered
Ii Hung Chang 10 use every endeavor to
open negotiations. He praises Earl LIS
faithful service to the dynasty and assures
him of imperial gratitude.
Another imperial edict, issued from
Shan-Si. Aug. Do and more conciliatory.
urges provincial viceroys and governors TO
safeguard their territories and bids the
Yang-Tse viceroys to continue the policy
OF securing protection for missionaries and
merchants and or maintaining the general
sense OF security"
Hong-Kong dispatches report persistent
rumors of an approaching anti-foreign ris-
ing and there is much uneasiness there
Ii Hung Changs protege. Ma Kien
Chung. died at Shanghai Monday.
six months rations for the British