The evening times., 1900-07-02

Official confirmation Of the reported as
sassination OF Baron Won Ketteler, the
German Minister to China. and the burning
d the legations at Pel1in, including the
American. was received at the Navy De-
partment this morning in tie following
,able despatch from Admiral Ilempf:
"Chefoo. July 2.
Secretary OF the Navy, Was hington:
Runner from Pekin reports legations
are besieged; provisions nearly ex-
hausted; situation desperate German
Minister going TO Tsung- Ii Yamen
murdered by Chinese soldiers. Ameri-
can, Italian duty 90 Legations burn
ed. Twenty thousand Chinese soldiers
inside. $4,000 outside Pekin; 1900 re-
ported bound Tientsin: still fighting
at Tientsin. Communications Tien-
tsin by rail and river insecure
"KEMT FF."
1t is supposed that the worC duty
which is accompanied by an Interrogation
mark in the despatch was intended in the
original copy to mean Dutch"
In spite of the news from Admiral
Kempff. and tb1t which came previously
from Consul General Goodnow and other
American official sources, the Government,
It is declared authoritativeIy, sees no rea-
son to change its position that the United
States and China are not at war. The in
formation was furnished this morning. o.
the very best authority, that the question
Of calling an extra session Of Congress to
meet the exigencies Of the Chinese crisis
had never been considered, and the Pre- 81
dent had not sent any word from Canton
on that subject.
1t is apparently the opinion of the Gov
ernment, or at least the officials desire II
to be expressed as their opinion. that TIE
ou:rages committed on the foreign repre-
sentatves at Pekin are not endorsed by tn,
Chinese Government. but are the work Of
an insurrectionary force under Prize
Tuan, father of the heir-apparent. who's
anti-foreign ideas have never been cen
cealed.
The Governments position is that If
Tuan has revolted and is controlling the
situation in Pekin. there is no ground fer
\ declaration of war by the United States
Or any other foreign nation against China
Germany with her minister murdered NOT
being excepted.
The Governments Policy.
In further explanation Of the American
policy, an illustration was given with ref
erence to the condition which would be
brought about in the relations between the
United States and China II Minister Con.
ger has been killed. Suppose. it was said,
that party Of Boer sympathizers. i'm
famed by a speech at a pro-Boer meeting
In Washington, had gone to the British
Embassy and killed Lord Pauncefote II
every reparation was made for this out
rage. the British Government would have
no cause for war, as the act would have
been committed without the knowledge and
against the desire OF the Government.
Leading up with this Illustration to the
position in which the United States would
be placed If Mr.. Conger were killed in
Pekin. 1t was explained that II his death
were due TO violence at the hands of IN
surreetionists whose strength was such as
TO render the Chinese Government pow
erless to control the situation and protect
the foreign ministers, war would probably
be averted- This explanation applies also
TO the indignity done the Government O,
the United States through the burning O,
its legation in Pekin.
The Government accepts as true the
statements that Baron Won KetteIer was
killed and the americans and other lesa-
tions burned. The statement in Admiral
Kempff's despatch of this morning that
the American Legation had been burned
was the first news to that effect that has
come to the Government.
In response to the opportunities q, II
Hung Chang and the viceroys OF the
Yangtse provinces. the Secretary OF state
has informed these Chinese officials nv
telegraph that the United States will CON
Fourth of July Rates
Via Pennsylvania Railroad.
Washington to Richmond, Va. and return 81 s..
NJ