Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-10-17

VICTORIA, B. c. October 16.-W. w.
Rockhill. the commissioner who repre-
scented the United States in the nego-
tiations between the Allies and China,
has arrived by the steamship Empress
> Of japan. on his way to Washington
He has with him a copy of the protocol
between China and the Powers, which
was recently signed by the represen, a
tives of the various nations interested.
He will proceed direct to Washing
ton by the Canadian Pacific railroad.
Affairs in China have resumed their
normal state" the commissioner said,
in an interview. He did not anticipate
any further outbreak, but there were
no telling what would happen in China.
The so-called instructions in Kan Su
and Manchuria, he said, were simply
local uprisings which had been very
much exaggerated. Three hundred
Chinese troops entered Picking on Sep
TENDER 18th, and the keys Of the gates
were handed over to Prince Ching with
elaborate and brilliant ceremonies. All
the foreign troops were withdrawn,
with the exception of the legation
guards and guards at the railway sta
tons. Since the Tien Tsin affair theie
had been no trouble over the railway
from the coast to Picking. which is con-
trolled by the British, in TACT the COM
mercial interests seemed to be taking
charge of the country, and commits
sion was being organized to conduct
commercial negotiations with China.
This commission will revise the trea-
ties, and arrange for the opening OF
more ports. The commissioner is of
opinion that the work of the commits
sion will bring about much better
state of affairs. The British and Chin
csc members IF the comm ssion have al
ready been appointed, and the Other
nations had been asked to name t1eir
representatives.
Before Mr. Rockhill left Picking the
Chinese troops hal commenced To no
lice the city. The neople, he said. had
been benefited by the occupation, they
having been given WORK rebuilding tire
legations an on C.oer works at wages
which they have never trained OF. On
the other hand many OF nose who were
well off before the occupation had been
rendered destitute as a result of it.
The legation concessions had been
greatly increased and the British lega-
ton is being built in the form of fort,
with a moat and guns mounted.
Mr.. Rockhill said he expected to
hear very shortly of the return of the
eour. to Picking.
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 mis-
sionaries had since visited the court,
and were very warmly received.
Mr.. 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 en-
pire sent out to the press have been
greatly exaggerated. The famine is the
esult of the failure Of the crops.
Mr. Rockhill said that while Ii Hung
Ching retains his mental vigor, he is
breaking down physically. He had
splendid appetite but suffers much from
indigestion and high fevers.
The Russians are having considerable
difficulty on the China-Manchuria rail-
way on account of the floods. They do
not allow officers Of other nations into