New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-07-25
CHINA'S REPLY AWAITED.
Continued from first pnge.

terms at once. and in either case the answer
must convey tidings Of the state OF affairs at
Fekirg and the welfare Of the Ministers.
SLIGHT CHANCES FOR MEDTATIoN.
The belief is not concealed here that the
chances for successful mediation are slight
Mediation cannot be forced party TO a
cause-it must be acceptable to all the parties.
If the United States is to mediate In Chinas
interest she must first secure the assent OF ali
the Powers who have suffered in life or property
at Peking The difficulties in the way OF such
an undertaking are likely to be many and
serious in view of the exhibition OF feeling IN
Europe But it is said here that the United
States will cheerfully undertake the task. pro-
vided it's conditions are met. IL 1t does not sue
coed IN inducing the European Powers to be
1enient in their treatment Of the Imperial Gov
eminent of China the United States Govern
ment will not be drawn into further hostihties
after it has taken care of its own anairs' nut
will withdraw, taking care, however 10 Iet II
be understood that this Government VIII NOT
allow it's proper interests in China to be injured
by the action of any of the Powers tnat may
choose to remain obdurate
At least one OF the great Powers is under
strong suspicion here Of acting cold bloodedly
and without regard to sentiment or anything
more than the most material of considerations
it is believed here that this Power Is quietly
taking measures to drop out OF the league al
Ten-Tsin and conduct campaign on us own
account against Fekng, and IT is even suspected
that this Power is already moving troops toward
the Chinese capital
IN COMMUNICATION WITH PEKlNG
one fact regarded as now beyond need OF
further demonstration. in view OF the 'hlhese
appeal is that the Chinese officials at the coast
ports are actually in communication with what
ever remains of the Imperial Government at
Picking and the text of Kwang Sus appeal ap-
pears to establish the fact that the Chinese Gov
eminent itself is sanctioning the resistance 10
the international! advance on Peking.
The State Department and the Chinese Lesa-
ton substantially agree in the estimate OF from
six to eight days the time necessary 10 set
a replv to the Presidents answer to the appeal
OF the Chinese Government According 70 the
best information here urgent messages are pelhs
transmitted between Picking and Shanghai by
the flying express" mentioned in Consul FoW-
ler's cable dispatch a few days ago. This, accord
ing to the Chinese. is a relay system OF mounted
messengers, similar to the old pony service
across the plains. and is used when telesrapnlc
communication is interrupted The relay rlders
make about two hundred miles day II Is IouI
hundred miles from Shanghai to Peking, ana
this seems to agree with the speed made IN
forwarding and returning the Conger message
Assuming from Sheng's dispatch that move
ment was foot the 18th TO get the foreign
Ministers started from Picking 10 Tlen-Isln un-
der escort of Imperial troops, the state Depart
ment would not be surprised TO get dehnlte
news of them from the headquarters of the allied
forces in a short time. The distance from Tten-
'Gsin to Picking is seventy-fve miles. and at this
season the trip is usually made by road from
Picking to TongChoo. point on the Pe-Ho
twelve miles below the capital and the re-
mainder Of the way by boat. This trip now
would take four days. suppostng the escort or
Imperial troops met with no resistance from the
insurgents L the move from Picking was made
within two days after Sheng's information was
received it would be possible that the Ministers
and their escort are now ~ touch with the head
quarters of the allies, always supposing that
nothing serious happened to the party on the
road.
The Chinese Minister received a dispatch this
morning from Sheng, the Director OF Railroads
and Telegraphs at Shanghai saying that the
foreign Ministers were to be sent from Pektng
to Tien-Tsin under escort, and that the Imperial
Government has not only been protecting them,
but has supplied them with food. The same dis
patch was made public in London yesterday