The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-02-06
MEETING At PEKING.
Important Conference Between ENJOYS
and Chinese Plenipotentiaries.
TROUBLE OVER AN ARREST.
French and German Troops Hold an
American Missionary, Whose Re-
lease Is EmphnticalIy Demand
ed by Minister Conger.

Peking, Feb. 5.-Interest centers in the
conference between the ministers Of the
powers and the Chinese plenipotentiaries
held to discuss the execution of the condi-
tons Of the collective note. Absolute Sc
crecy is maintained by both sides.
The Franco Belgian railroad, from Pc
king to Hankow, 1875 kilometers of which
were destroyed, has been completely re-
stored, and traffic has been resumed. The
track, which formerly terminated IA kilo-
meters from Picking, has now been pro-
longed to within that city. Trains en-
tered Picking Feb. 3.
The arrest of the Rev. Mr.. Ament OF
the American board Of foreign missions
Is causing considerable trouble.
Mr.. Backhouse, an Englshman, who
WINS arrested with him, has reported to
Minister Conger that he, Mr.. Ament and
Mr.. Peach, another Englishman, left Pc
king on last Wednesday. They stopped
on business at town which was in Mr..
Ament's missionary field before the trou.
Bile.
Fifty French and German soldiers, ac-
companied by Jesuit priest on Friday.
visited the house at which they were
staying and, with drawn bayonets, ar
|
cused Of being leaders Of native Chris
tinns who had blackmailed villages, Sc
curing $4,000 taels.
The premises We're searched, trunks
and boxes broken open and everything
Of value taken away. Finally the sol
diers marched them TO the French head
quarters, mile away. They were there
examined closely.
| 4
turn to the house for the night, but the
place was kept under guard. The next
day Mr.. Backhouse was allowed to re-
turn to Peking, but Mr.. Ament was not
permitted to leave.
The French and German officers treat.
ed Mr.. Ament roughly. They declared
that the whole party would be taken to
Paoting-fu and tried by court martial
Ament Appeals to Conger.
DR.. Ament sent an appeal to Mr.. Con
ger for troop of cavalry to release him
Mr.. Conger visited the French ant
German ministers and demanded the re
lease OF the missionary. Both Of tn,
ministers asked for time to investigat,
the case.
} Later they declared on the strength o
their military reports that DIR. Ament hat
not been arrested and that he was onl,
wanted ms witness against the guilt,
Christians. Judging from Mr.. Bacl,
; houses story, this is false.
Mr. Conger again insisted that the re
2 ply of the ministers was unsatisfactory
2 Nj. Piehon, the French minister an,
, DR.. Mumm Won Schwartzcnstein, the &c,
r man minister are trying to learn tn
t facts and will order the release of DJ
: Amcnt If he is still under arrest.
e The matchmaking complained Of In
n here i"fore been reported in these di.
Y patches. Native Christians have blacl
d mailed villages everywhere in the pro,
e in"e of Chilli. The Protcstants assel
that the offenders are Catholics arme
with modern rifles, furnished To them h
the French. Whatever the faith of III
n Offenders. their operations have been /
l. general as TO discredit NIL religions.
e Eighty thousand taels is a small est
IS mate Of the amount they have obtaine
. IN the vicinity of Chouchou alone.
e III Hung Chung was informed nv n
ie attache of the British legation tho 9th,
day that the powers would insist nno
the bcheading of at least four metrono
itan officers. Earl Ii informed the n
e tache that the court would not consent ,
is the beheading of so many.
IS An edict has been received authorizir
,s the payment Of the interest on the hnn,
~ OF the Chinese railroad to Shanhalkwa,
ms VIII prevent the road from fall;r
INTO the hands OF the British, who und,
the terms of the loan would control n
road on default in interest paymen, !
IS China. China has the money ready
be pay the interest, 'N"u'