Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-06-15
STATEMENT IN THE COMMONS.
Full Report of the Attion of the British
GoVernmenU in China.

Full Report of the AZ ton of the British
Government in China.
London. June 15.-In the house Of
commons the parliamentary secretary
OF the foreign office, William st. John
Brodrick, made Il statement in regard
TO the position of affairs IN the Chinese
capital. Her majesty's minister at
Pekin," said he, has been in constant
communication with the Chinese gov
ernment since the attack by Boxers
on peaceable converts and the destruc-
tlOn Of three villages about ninety
miles from Pekin on May II. On May
Is Sir Claude Mcdonald reminded the
tsunC-li-yamen Of his unceasing warn
ings during the last six months OF the
dangers of not taking adequate meas
uers TO suppress the Boxers. and an i'm
perial decree was subsequently issued
On May 20 a meeting of the diplo-
matte corps was held at which n reso-
luton was unanimously adopted call
ing on the tsung- li-yamen to take more
stringent measures. II was not then
considered necessary 10 bring the in
teTnational guards to Pekin. but the
British marine guard at. Tien Tsin,
which had been under orders to leave,
was detained there and two British
ships were sent to Taku. As no Spe-
citic measures We're taken by the tsung-
li-yamen the diplomatic corps met
again May 20 and decided. failing the
receipt o ia satisfactory reply from
tn etSung- -yamen. to summon guards.
This course was adopted May 2S, and
a British detachment of seventy-eight
nen with n machine gun was forth
with sent to Pekin, and 104 men We're
sent 10 Tien Tsin, while four more Brit
ish ships were brought TO Taku.
News was then received of the mur-
der Of Mr.. Robinson and the capture
OF Mr.. Norman. who was subsequently
murdered. Sir Claude Macdonald
contiued until June to urgently i'm
press the tSung-li-yamen with the ne
cessity for taking instant and effective
steps TO punish the murderers and re-
store order. informing them that her
majesty's government held the Chi
nese government responsible for the
criminal apathy which had brought
about this dSgraceful state of affairs
These remOnStrances having no effect. |
and the situation both lat Pekfn and in
its neighborhOod becoming more threat
ening, her majesty's government on
June 6 telegraphed instructions to Sir
Claude Macdonald and Admiral Sey
mour to take. in concert with the other
powers any steps in their discretion
which was left unfettered-they might
consider advisable for the protection
Of the foreign legations at Pekin and
British subjects there. at Tien Tsin, or
I'm the neighborhood.
"Sir Claude Macdonald. after Il con
ference with the Russian representa-
tive at Pekin, was empowered TO sup
port any Chinese authority capable of
maintaining law and order. or any
measures to this end, the Russian min
lister being similarly authorized. In
consequence of further depredations OF
the Boxers Admiral Seymour called up
three more ships, and June 8. after
consultation with the foreign com
manders. decided to land II force and
march to Pekin. on June 10 he
marched with LOS men. of which go |
were British This force has since |
been Increased TO 2.3OO men, contain |
ing detachments from the ships of sew
en- of the powers. The admiral had I
advanced thirty miles June II. when |
he encountered the Boxers and killed |
thirty-five of them.
THE railway was much broken up.
and only three miles were covered in |
the next twenty-fOur hours. About |
$50 troops are being embarked at Hong |
Kong, and the Terrible is going to |
Taku. The Russians are landing an |
additional detachment of LOO men. |
Sir Claude Macdonald reported June |
II that disorders were occurring at |
Pekin- Nine British and twenty-five |
foreign ships are now at Taku, and |
complete accord prevails among the |
powers in regard 70 the action taken |
BY Admiral Seymour"
Brodrick concluded with denying |
that he had the least intention of i'm |
plying that Great Britain had any |
closer agreement with Russia than |
with any other power.