The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-11

LONDON, Aug. IA semi official des-
patch received here from st. Petersburg
states that, in reply to the identical notes
sent by the foreign ministers at Pekin to
their respective Governments, in which il
was stated that they would not leave for
Tientsin unless SO instructed by the Gov
ernments, the Gear has cabIed NJ. &c Giers.
the Russian Minister. to leave Pekin on
condition that the Chinese Emperor gives
him safe-conduct
This action of the Russian Government
has created a sensation in diplomatic cir
cles here, and there are many conjectures
as 10 what il may mean. II Is not going
too far to say that it has aroused very
general suspicion that Russia may have
secret understanding with the Imperial
Government
II is regarded as all the more significant
because of the announcement in the Off
cial Messenger OF St. Petersburg that a
Giers. dated Pekin. August T. which was
Identical with that sent from the Chinese
capital by the representatives Of the other
er powers The argument is made that if
NJ de Giers' despatch was Identical with
the one sent by Mr.. Conger, the American
Minister it must have shown that it would
be sure death for the ministers to leave
Pekin for Tientsin under a Chinese escort
In the face of this official assurance Of
the peril of trusting to an Imperial es-
cort. the Gar is reported TO have ordered
NJ de Giers to accept the EmperoT's guar
antee of safe-eonduct.
There are those who believe that the
move indicates deep but intensely cruel
scheme on the part of Russia. AS the sit
uation is now. Germany has the strongest
claim of all the powers against China for
indemnity, because Of the assassination Of
Baron Won Ketteler- That claim, howev
er, may be offset by the contention of the
Chinese Government that the German Min
lister was murdered by mob nof by In
perial soldiers. On the other hand. if NJ
de Giers should stax1 for TienJsfn under
the Emperor's guarantee of protection and
should be slaughtered on the way Russia
then, of course, would have the predomi-
nant grievance. The inference, naturally,
is that the Russian Government is willing
TO sacrifice its Pekin Minister, with possi-
bly, all the members OF its legation, for
the sake of the diplomatic advantage that
would thus accrue.
While this is the extreme view, it has
been widely adopted, because it seems to
embody the most reasonable explanation
why Russia. of all the powers. should be
the only one willing to accept a Chinese
guarantee against the advice of all the
diplomats IN Pekin, including her own
On the other hand, there are few who
believe that Russias secret understanding
with China may relate solely to the safety
of her own legation; in other words. that
the Russians are TO be protected regard
less of what may happen to the other for
eigners
Altogether Russia's course has created
a most painful impression and has given
rise TO no end of unpleasant surmises
A despatch from Berlin says the German
Foreign Office has received favorable
reply from Great Britain, Russia, Austria,
and Italy in regard to the Emperor's pro-
posal that Field Marshal Count Won Wal
dersee should be made commander if-chief
of the allied forces ir China The British
reply was most friendly, but there was
saving clause that the assent of Great
Britain was subject to certain conditions,
the chief one of which was that all the
other powers should consent to the propo-
sal. No reply has been received from
France as yet, but welI-informed persons
say the response from the French Repub-
lie will be in the affirmative Neither ia
to the proposal
a Paris despatch says:
Although the appointment OF Field Mar
shall Count Won Waldersee is at present
limited to the command of the German
troops in China, the French Foreign Office
is prepared to agree to his selection as
ommander-in-e chief of the allied troops,
inasmuch as the position will be merely
platonic. The soldiers of the powers viii
probably enter Pekin long before Waldersee
arrives on the scene'
The Foreign Office processes entire ig-
norance of the details connected with the
appointment. 1t says it does not know
how it will be effected, what its duia-
ton will be or within what geographical
limits its operation viii be eircumscribed
Up TO the present time the Foreign Office
says it has not been approached by Ger
many on this subject
10, 6 O. Wcek-End Country Ex-
cursions.
Tickets sold Saturdays and Sundays, foT return
until Monday following, at reduced rates from
Washington to Charlestown, Frederick, Annapolis
md jr+ar