The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-27
A BRIGHTER VIEW
Of the Chinese Situation Is Prevail
ing in London.

New York, June ga dispatch to the
Tribune from London, dated June ~,
says: The optimiStS who have been IN
the background for a week have turned
out in force at the house OF commons
and the political clubs and are talking
cheerfully about China
So marked was the reaction from de-
preston last night that men of influence
did not hesitate to say that they be-
heved that the public had been deceived
by sensa tional neWsmongers and Chinese
liars and that as-sOOn as cOmmunica-
tions were re-opened it would be known
that the foreigners had not been muir
dered at Tien TSin; that Admiral Sey-
mour's force had been blocked, but not
cut to pieces and that the legations had
not been attacked. One view which
found considerable support was that
the empress by avoiding an open con-
flict with the boxers and inStructing the
generals to make common cause with
them had regained control Of the Sltua-
ton and that the legations had escaped
attack in this way and that the min
listers had been escorted out of Pekin
and that Seymour's force had been
shut out of the capital but nor been III
serious danger. There was little EVIL
dence in support of this theory, yet
many men of good judgment were dis
posed to credit it and to assume that
the empress after making use OF the
regular army in dispensing the boxers
after Sympathizing with them would
not oppose the entry of the foreign
forces but would appeal for Russian
support and depend upon speedy
break up of the concert through 1eal-
ousies and intrigues.
The British admiralty is a slow-golng
| institution which has an idolatrous love
| of red tape. It was silent hour AFTER
hour yesterday, although the dispatch
of the American admiral had been pub
| nshed in Washington and the German
| foreign office had heard from its con-
/ sulate at Che Foo that the third reller
column had entered Tien Tsin on the
way to Pekin and that Admiral Sey-
| mour was 121% miles from that place
| with the foreign ministers. Owing to
| the sluggiShnesS of the admiralty IN
| giving out dispatches the American
| press is able to get official news from
| China in advance of the English pup
lie. since nothing is held back by the
| navy department in Washington.
| Press dispatches available at mid
| night were meager but it was fa1rly
| clear that the allied forces had been
greatly strengthened by French, Ger
| man, Japanese and Russian troops
| that the march to Tien Tsin had not
| been attended with serious loss and
that the plight of the foreigners there
had not been so serious as had beer
supposed. 1t is not known with dennlte-
ness whether Admiral Seymour's force
marched into Pel1in and carried the
i ministers and refugees out with them OF
whether thew were sent out under this
escort of their own guards, but the opln.
ion prevailed at midnight among wei
informed members of parliament ina
a catastrophe had been ayerted anc
that the military and naval forces, while
not sufficient to secure permanent occu'
nation of PeHin. were adequate for the
immediate protection of the foreigners
in Tien Tsin Mr. Frederick and Mr.
Balfour were closely questioned in th'
| house of commons respecting emma bu
their information was apparently sec
ond hand The government was clear
" unprepared for the crisis which ha'
arisen but has pulled itself together anS
is hunting in the dark for a policy.