The age-herald., 1901-10-17
Commissioner Rockhi|| Returns Bringing a Copy of the
 Peace Protocol
ANTICIPATES NO OUTBREAK
Chinese Troops Have Entered Pekin and the Keys of the City Are Handed Over to Prince
 Chung.

Victoria, B. C., October 16.-Mr W. W. Rockhill, the commissioner who repre- sented the United States in the negotia- tions between the allies and China, ar rived yesterday by the steamship Elm press of Japan on his way to Washing ton. He has with him a copy of the protocol between China and the Powers, which was recently signed by the repre- sentatives of the various nations inter- ested He will proceed direct to Wash ington by the Canadian Railroad.
 Affairs in China have resumed their normal state, the commissioner said, in an interview. He did not anticipate any further outbreak, but there was no tell ing what would happen in China. The so-called insurrection in Kan Su and Manchuria, he said, were simply local up- risings, which had been very much exag- gerated Three hundred Chinese troops entered Pekin on September IT, and the keys of the gates were handed over to Prince Chung with elaborate and bril- liant ceremonies. All the foreign troops were withdrawn. with the exception of the legation guards and guards at the railway station. Since the Tien Tsin af- fair there has been no trouble over the railway from the coast to Pekin, which is controlled by the British; in fact the commercial interests seemed to be taking charge of the country and a commission was being organized to conduct commer- cial negotiations with China. This com mission will revise the treaties and ar of f1Orta The commission is of the opinion that the work of the commission will bring about 8 much better state of affairs. The Brit ish and Chinese members of the com mission have already been appointed and the other nations had been asked to name their representatives.
 Policing the City.
 Before MT. Rockhill left Pekin the Chi nese troops had commenced to police the city. The people, he said had been bene- fited by the occupation. they having been given the work of rebuilding the le- gations and other work at wages which they had never dreamed of. On the other hand, many of those who were we'll off say their occupation had been rendered destitute on account of it. The legation concessions had been greatly increased and the British legation Is being built in the form of a fort, with moat and mounted guns.
 MT. Rockhill said he expected to hear very shortly of the return of the court to Pekin.
 While missionaries were murdered and tortured in other parts of China, Roman Catholic missionaries had lived under the protection of the court at Hsiang Flu. British officers and missionaries had since visited the court, ana were very warmly received.
 MT Rockhill says many people are starving in the district in which Hsiang Flu is situated, but the reports of the famine in other parts of the Empire sent out by the press have been greatly exag- eerated. The famine is the result of the failure of the crops.
 Mir Rockhill said that While Ii Hung Chang retains his mental vigor, he is breaking down physically. He has a splendid appetite, but suffers much from indigestion and high levers.
 The Russians are having considerable difficulty in the China Manchuria Rail- road on account of floods. They do not allow officers of other nations into the country, but have no objection to civil ians traveling through MT. Rockhfll does not look for a boom when conditions in China are again settled, but says the trade will be enormous
 Battle on September 30.
 News was received by the Empress of Japan of further rebellions in China. A pitched battle occurred on September 30 between the imperial Chinese forces un- der General Tsen and force of TOGO in- surgents, near Hsinho, in Chi Lii, sixty miles south of Pao Ting Flu. Thirty rebels were killed. many wounded and the remainder fled. Several villages were taken by the troops.
 In Chou Chou rebellion has also taken place and the missionaries have been driven out. At Kiang Shan several of the rebels have been seized and beheaded. Missionaries also tell of trouble at Ka- ing Si.
 Many, letters have been written to the North China Daily News telling of the risings in the vicinity but giving few de- tails.
 The North China Daily News reports much military activity by Russia in the north, and states that a number of troons have been sent south. where 1t is believed they will be massed on the Corean from tier The Japanese minister to China Mir Koumoura, has returned to Tolxio. and in an interview he says there are 40 : 900 Russian troops in Manchuria. He says that as soon as the Chinese court is es- tablished at Pekin the question of eyac- uation by Russia will be taken up. Russia has offered China 5,O0OO00 taels for her fleet of warships, according to the Shang- hai Mercury. Many papers print reports that the return to Pekin of the court has been postponed for two years.