The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-23
MESSAGE EXPECTED
EARLY NEWS FROM FOREIGNERS
IN PEkIN LOOKED FOR.
THERE IS STILL MUCH DOUBT.
EMPRESS is REPORTED TO BE PRE-.
PAIRING FOR WAR.


a Few Days-FaII of Tien Tsin Has
Dishenrtened the Chinese-Li Hung
Chang's Trip Has Proven a Fail
ure-Trouble Expected in Southern
| China.
| London, July %, a. m.-Sir Chih Chen
| Lob Feng, the Chinese minister in London,
took the unusual step yesterday of pay
ing Sunday call at the foreign office.
AS Lord Salisbury was absent, the visit
was without special result, but its inn
portance may be gathered from an inter-
| view with the secretary of the Chinese
| legation, Sir Halliday Mccartney, in
which the legation officials seem to have
assumed at last something like personal
responsibility.
Sir Halliday admitted that communi-
cation had been practically reopened with
| Pekin and that messages from Sir Claude
| Macdonald the British minister, and the
other foreign ENJOYS might be expected
| almost Immediately. He said he hoped
the trouble would soon be over since
the Chinese government was doing its
utmost to overcome the difficulties and to
| COutIOl tHe ldWleSS element.
In his opinion the Americans had taken
the most common sense view of the sit
uation, and he insisted that China ought
not to be misjudged. Against the suspic-
ion that Lii Hung Chang had any but
sincere pacific object in view he protested
warmly. declaring that all stories about
the perfidy and treachery of Earl Ii were
absolutely baseles.
With regard to the prospects in the
southern provinces, the Secretary admit
| ted that there might be small outbreaks,
but he said there would be nothing Sc
rious and that Europeans would be quite
ssfe in treaty ports. The long silence he
explained due probably to the rebels,
who have cut the wires and blocked the
roads"
Should Be Early Solution.
Thus. according to the secretary of the
| Chinese legation, few days more should
bring a solution of the great mystery.
Nevertheless no one in England believes
| that the alleged dispatches and edicts are
| anything by subterfuges to hide the real
| situation long as possible and to avert
retribution by sowing discord among the
| Powers.
From Shanghai comes a report that the
| Empress uOwager and the court are NOV
ing to Bsian Flu CD. in the province of
Shan 81, 10 which large stores of rice are
being sent, and that. when these arrange
ments are completed the remaining vice
roys will declare against foreigners
| According to the Che Foo correspond
ent of the Daily Mail, the fan of Tien
| Tsin has so disheartened the Chinese that
they are seeking terms of peace. He says
that several attempts have been made to
| send messages to Pektn, but so far with
out any known results. and adds that
| rumors again current that the Rus
slams are reaching Pekin from the north.
1t is impossible to confirm or deny these
statements; but either one might explain
China's efforts TO gain time.
LIS Visit a Failure.
Ii Hung Changes visit to Shanghai
seems to be complete failure. Except
the Chinese custom officials. no one has
visited him. sheng, the chief magistrate,
gave the consuls a cordial invitation to
meet him at luncheon, but all declined.
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Express pretends to have authority
for the assertion that Great Britain will
repudiate any credentials Ii Hung Chang
may bring from the Empress Dowager,
and he adds:
Russia, however, is willing to make
terms with Ii Hung Chang whose real
&c eiou ,sfn tI1
Powers The British, German and Amer
lean residents were resolute against re-
ceiving him."
The Shanghai correspondent of the Daily
Mail declares that the Chinese officials
are thoroughly frightened by the fall of
I'ien Tsin and desire to open negotiations
Therefore" he continues. although all
are aware of the horrible Pekin massa-
cres, every official down to the humblest
retainer has been sworn to secrecy upon
the penalty of wholesale executions
should the details leak out. They hope
IL the Powers once begin negotiations to
stop the military operations. and that
matters might cool down"
Rumors From shanghai.
There is the usual crop of Shanghai ru-
mors at hand this morning. One is that
Prince Tuan has been abducted and that
the Empress Dowager is again supreme
Another is that the notorious Kang VI
president o fthe board of war, has been
appointed viceroy of Canton.
The Tien Tin correspondent of the
Daily News says the allies have issued
proclamation announcing that they are
net fighting China, but only the rebels
who have been guilty Of attacks upon the
fore gners.
The dec sin to keep the Indian division
at Hcng Kong is supposed to be due to
the dlsquie,ing proceedings Of the BLACK
Flags" at Canton.
1t is reported that the Bogue forts are
beng rearmed by the Chinese with quick
firing Krupps and large stores of am
mpnition. and that the Chinese are
mourning guns and laying torpedoes at
various advantageous points between Woo
sung ard WI Chang.
The foreigners and Jepanese traders
have evacuated Nlu Chwang, where the
roads are now guarded by japanese
marines
All foreign women and children have