Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-08-03
is AN UNFRIENDLY ACT,
So Says Chinese Minister OF
Advance on Peking.
BKITIsR AND AMERICAN PLANS

II Is Said In London That These
Two Nation. VIII Help China Put
Down the Boxers-EnvOys Report.
ed stiII snfe.
London, Aug, .3-"China regards the
march of the allies ON Peking us an un
friendly act, If not tantamount to a dec
laration of war" said Sir Chih Chen, the
Chinese minister, last night. He added:
Unless the powers promptly assure the
imperial authorities that they do not in.
tend to do more than release the minis
tiers and the other foreigners the Chinese
regulars will be ordered to oppose the in
vaders. There is no other course open to
the Chinese government.
What would Englishmen say of the
British government if it were idle while
foreign army marched to London !?
What would Americans say of the Wash
ington government if it were limp in the
presence of an alien foe? China has not
yet received an official and specific pro-
nunciamento setting forth the intentions
of the powers. She must regard all arm
ed invaders as enemies until they sol
emnly proclaim themselves friends"
The minister says that even if formal
war breaks out the Picking authorities
VIII uu every tlllp lHty tHU iO protect IIlp
Caucasians in the capital. He fears. how
ever. that the advance of the allied troops
will send the entire Chinese population
over to the Boxers side and provoke the
murder of all defenseless whites within
reach of the mob.
"Nor will the slaughter stop" said he
Sin my opinion with the foreigners. 1 an
ticipate that the emperor and the en-
press, as well as every Chinaman who
has sought to save the lives of the lega-
TONERS, will be slain. If the powers pull
down the dynasty infinite difficulties will
come tunbling about their heads"
British and American Plans.
1t is still rumored in diplomatic circles
that the United States and Great Britain
have agreed to aid the Chinese troops in
ovcrthrowing the rebels, il the former
were found to be acting in good faith. 1t
is also said that the two countries will
act together, averting, if possible, a tech
nical war with China. 1t is certain, at
any rate, that the foreign offices in both
London and Washington are in constant
communication concerning the Chinese
situation.
This dispatch from its special CORE
spondent at Shanghai is published in The
Daily Mail:
"An official telegram from the tsung-li-
yamen, dated Monday, states that the
ministers in Peking We're all well on
that date and that vegetables. fruits and
other eatables had been sent to the lega-
tions on several occasions. Friendly i'll
tercourse, it added. was now being car
ried on between the foreigners and the
Chinese government"
A messenger who left Picking on the
21st has arrived mt Chefu with messages
from several of the ministers. United
States Minister Conger sends the follow
ing dispatch to Consul Ragsdac:
I'VE have been besicged in the British
legation for five weeks under a continual
fire of the Chinese troops, but since the
10th, by agreement, there has been no
firing. Fifty marines of all nationalities
have been killed and more wounded.
eve have provisions for several weeks,
but little ammunition. If they continue
to shell us as they have done, we cannot
hold out long, and a complete massacre
will follow. We hope relief can come
soon. Glad to hear of the victory at
Tien-tsin."
The gist of the other messages is that
the missionaries are uninjured but that
the mission is destroyed. The customs
staff and their families are uninjured.