Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-23
AS VIEWED IN EUHOPe.
General Doubt Of Minister'S Safety Though
Chinese e,ations Assert II.

London. July 23-4 A. M.-Sir Chin
Chen Lob Feng the Chinese minister
in London. took the unusual step. yes
terday. of paying a Sunday call at the
foreign office. AS Lord Salisbury was
absent, the visit was without special
result; but its importance may be
gathered from an interview with the
secretary of the Chinese legation Sir
Halliday Mccartney, in which the le-
cation officials seem to have assumed
at least something like personal re-
sponsibilty.
Sir Halliday admitted that commun-
ication had been practically re-opened
with Pekin and that messages from
Sir Claude Macdonald, the British
minister and the other foreign ENJOYS
might almost Immediately be expected.
He said he hoped the trouble would
soon be over. since the Chinese gov
eminent was doing its utmost to over
come the difficulties and to control the
lawless element. In his opinion the
Americans have taken the most COM
mon sense view of the situation and
he insisted that China should not be
rnisjudged Against the suspicion that
Lii Hung Chang had any but a sincere
pacific object in view. he protested
warmly. declaring that all stories
about the perfdy and treachery of
Earl Lii We're absolutely baseless.'
With regard to the prospects in the
southern provinces. the secretary ad-
mitted that there might be small out
breaks. but he said there would be
nothing serious and that the Euro
peans would be quite safe in treaty
ha ci1anrn no aynl1nai
as due probably to the rebels. who
have cut the wires and blocked the
roads
Thus, according to the secretary of
the Chinese legation. a few days more
should bring a solution of the great
mystery Nevertheless. no one in Eng
land believes that the alleged dispatch
es and edicts are anything but subter-
fuges to hide the real situation as long
as possible and to avert retribution by
sowing discord among the powers.
From Shanghai comes n report that
the Empress Dowager and the court
are moving to Hsian Flu. in the prov
ince of Shan ST. to which large stores
of rice are being sent. and that when
these arrangements are completed the
remaining viceroys will declare against
foreigners
According to the Che Foo CORE
spondent of the Daily Mail the fall of
Tien Tsin has SO disheartened the Chi
nese that they are seeking terms of
peace. He says that several attempts
have been made to send messages to
Pekin. but so far without any known
results and adds that rumors are
again current that the Russians are
reaching Pekin from the north. 1t is
impossible to confirm or deny these
statements, but either might explain
Chna's efforts to gain time.
Ii Hung Chang's visit to Shanghai
seems to be a complete failure. Elk
cept the Chinese custom officials n
one has visited him. Sheng. the Tao
tai (chief magistrate>. gave the con-
suls a cordial invitation to meet hin
at luncheon. but all declined
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Mail pretends to have authority
for the assertion that Great Britain
will repudiate any credentials Ii Huns
Chang may bring from the EMPIRES;
Dowager: and he adds: Russia. how
ever. Is willing to make terms with |,
Hung Chang. whose real mission i.
TO sow dissension among the powers
The British. German and America,
representatives We're resolute agains
receiving him. Al