smoke. On June 16 the flames from a steam flour mill and a foreign drug store spread to adjacent buildings, and a strong wind carried the conflagration on until the richest fur and cloth stores and the most important banks were in ashes. The Boxers supplicated the fire god in vain to spare the great tower in the south wall, which was opened only for the passage of the Emperor when he visited the Temple of Heaven or that of the God of Agriculture.

On the day following the entrance of their main body the Boxers made the first attack on the legations, to which the troops replied with a volley, killing a number, wounding many, and causing the rest to retire quickly out of sight. In their retreat they came upon and set fire to a mission compound that the missionaries had abandoned, leaving there 200 converts with their families, all of whom perished in the flames or were slain in trying to escape. The same night they burned several foreign houses, and on the night following, in two divisions of about 2,000 each, they renewed the attack on the legations. Several volleys were fired by the troops, putting the bands to flight; and as they fled in disorder the troops sallied out and chased them a short distance, killing a great number. After this a new proclamation of the Empress Dowager ordered the Boxers to disperse, and threatened all who remained in Pekin with arrest and punishment as bad characters, since all good Boxers must already have departed in obedience to previous edicts. Soldiers were at the same time detailed to patrol the streets and special guards were set to protect the legations. The Boxers denounced it as false, the work of the Chinese party, and contrary to former decrees, and subsequently they murdered several high Chinese officials.

When Admiral Seymour's expedition set out without leave, the Chinese Government protested through its representatives abroad that it was a hostile act. The advocates of peace and moderation in Pekin were rendered dumb. The Boxers were supplied with weapons from the Government armories and recognized as a militia for the defense of the country, and, recruited by deserting soldiers from Nieh's army, they were authorized to stop the expedition, for which purpose TungFuhsiang's troops also marched out.

On June 16 the Empress Dowager summoned a Grand Council. She is said to have first consulted the Manchu princes and nobles and then to have announced their decision to the Grand Council, which was for war against foreigners until these should abate their pretensions. The Chinese of ficials protested that a general war against Christendom would be fatal, and urged that time should be taken to make a choice of enemies and also of friends, some advocating an understanding with Russia, others one with Great Britain and Japan. The Boxers in Pekin from this time grew bolder, and the lawless soldiery of Tung-Fuhsiang joined them in attacks on the legations.

In the night of June 16 American and Russian sentries were fired upon by Chinese soldiers. On June 17 a collision occurred between a detach ment of German and Austrian troops and Chinese regulars, some of whom were killed, which led to a request of the Tsung-li-Yamen that the foreign guards should be withdrawn, assurance of protection being given. The ministers replied that thereafter their own soldiers would protect them. Large bodies of Chinese troops encamped near the legations.

The capture of the Taku forts by the powers and the subsequent advance of the relieving column were accepted by the Chinese Government and

by all authorities in north China as acts of open war. The Empress proclaimed a state of war, called on the ministers of the powers with the Europeans in the legations to withdraw under a safe conduct to within the lines of the allies at Tientsin, and sent orders to the provincial authorities to notify Europeans to leave the country, and to raise troops for the purpose of repelling the foreign barbarians and maintaining the national prestige. Gen. Nieh, who had been sent out to suppress the Boxers when they damaged the railroads and then recalled because he carried out his orders with too much violence, was commanded to assist the Boxers and the troops of Tung-Fuhsiang in resisting the advance of the allies. When the ministers refused to leave the legations under the escort of Chinese troops, they were regularly besieged in the legation compounds and attacked nightly by the Boxers and mutinous soldiery, and intermittently were shelled by the imperial troops. The first notice to the foreign ministers to leave Pekin was delivered on June 19 in an identical note from the Tsung-li-Yamen, stating that the admirals had demanded the surrender of the Taku forts and threatened to attack them and take them by force, showing the intention of the powers to break off friendly relations. The princes and ministers, astonished at this news, could not promise complete protection to the legations from the Boxer banditti if war ensued, and therefore begged the ministers to depart for Tientsin with their guards under the protection of an escort of Chinese troops that had been provided for the purpose. The ministers, who knew nothing before this of the action at Taku, asked for a conference with Prince Ching and Prince Tuan, to satisfy themselves as to the sufficiency of the military escort and the means of transport, and to stipulate that members of the Tsung-li-Yamen should accompany the expedition. The Russian minister still hoped for a peaceful outcome. The German minister, Baron von Ketteler, who felt called upon to uphold the interests of his Government with firmness and vigor, strongly dissented from the opinion of most of his colleagues that it was necessary to leave Pekin, and determined to convey a serious warning to the Tsung-li-Yamen, and the Manchu princes in particular, that if they broke off diplomatic relations with European nations they would bring about the fall of the dynasty. Although he received no reply from the Tsung-li-Yamen to his demand for an interview, he set out without an armed escort in the morning of June 20, and as he passed a squad of soldiers he was shot dead in his sedan chair by the officer in command of the troops, his interpreter reported.

The death of the German minister convinced the other ministers that they could not depend on a Chinese escort, and determined them to fortify the legations and defend them until the relief column arrived. The missionaries in their quarter of the city, the staff of the Maritime Customs, and other Europeans and Americans, were hastily escorted to the British legation. At the hour when the time set for their departure by the Tsung-li-Yamen was up, the troops of Tung-Fuhsiang opened a rifle fire on the Austrian legation. On the day following the Tsung-li-Yamen sent a courteous reply to the diplomatic body, stating that the warning to leave Pekin had been given in consideration of the dangers that the ministers incurred by remaining, but since the country outside was also disturbed and the time given was too brief for proper preparations, the Yamen agreed to the delay and to further negotiation; the relations between China and the powers had not been strained by any animosity on the part of the

Chinese Government, which could not have foreseen the outbreak of the people against the Christians, and the Government desired to learn from the foreign ministers what were the intentions and instructions of their governments. The ministers replied in a collective communication that they had none but friendly instructions, and that detachments were on their way to Pekin for no other purpose than to assure safety. In calling attention to the firing upon the legation buildings they were convinced that it was chargeable to rebels or to soldiers acting independently, and they looked to the Chinese Government to put a stop to it.

For the next three weeks no communications passed between the Chinese Foreign Office and the legations, which were closely invested by Boxers and attacked with shell and rifle fire by imperial troops. The Austrians abandoned their buildings on June 21 and retreated to the French legation. The French and Italians evacuated their legations, but resumed their positions later. The German legation was abandoned on June 22. The British legation was the main defensive position. Adjacent buildings were torn down to deprive attacking parties of shelter, to avert the danger of fire, and to give material for fortification. When Prince Su abandoned his palace to take refuge in the imperial city it was occupied by Christian converts, some of whom he had already received in the outer court at the request of the ministers. These Chinese were employed in the work of fortification, in which all the inmates of the crowded British legation helped. Committees were formed to take charge of the

in such attacks, which were officially ascribed to riotous Boxers and mutinous troops. The barricades of the besiegers were gradually pushed close up to those of the legations. The anti-foreign party had its own way in Pekin whenever the allies made a fresh move toward the city, but whenever they paused, more peaceful edicts were issued, and southern viceroys, who refused to support the warlike policy and petitioned the Empress Dowager to suppress the Boxers and protect the legations, appealed to the powers to stay their advance and present their terms of peace, promising on their part to check anti-foreign disturbances in their provinces, but adding that they could not guarantee the safety of the legations nor vouch for the temper of the people in their own provinces if the powers proceeded to the occupation of Pekin and the humiliation of the Empress. An imperial

administrative details. F. D. Gamewell, an American missionary having a knowledge of engineering and of Chinese construction and the management of Chinese labor, superintended the erection of the barricades according to the plans of the military men. Sir Claude MacDonald was recognized as the chief in military as in other matters, although sometimes the military officers objected to carrying out his orders. On June 22 the Boxers burned the Italian and Dutch legations and set fire to buildings within the British compound, which were saved with difficulty. The legation guards numbered only 430-79 British, 75 French, 75 Russians, 58 Americans, 50 Germans, 40 Italians, 30 Austrians, and 23 Japanese. The periodical attacks made by organized bodies of imperial troops were mere demonstrations. A small force of them with modern guns, of which there were hundreds in Pekin, could have demolished the legations at any moment. Even the Boxers, outnumbering the defenders fifty to one, could have forced the position had they not been restrained. From June 23 the legations were completely besieged. The Imperial Guards under Yung-Lu continued to protect the legations at the instance of the Emperor and of Prince Ching and the Tsung-li-Yamen. Kang-Yi and Prince Tuan encouraged the Boxers and the troops under Tung-Fuhsiang, of whom there were 15,000 in Pekin, to attack the legations, in order to frighten the ministers into leaving Pekin. No one in authority acknowledged connivance

edict of July 1 expressed disappointment in the achievements of the Boxer militia, who should have combated the enemy and averted the outrages China had suffered at the hands of the foreigners. They were still urged to proceed northward to ward off the danger that threatened Tientsin and Pekin, but the disloyal bands that robbed and murdered in their name would be distinguished from the true Boxers and would be rigidly suppressed.

The legations were barricaded on every side with a succession of walls built of large bricks taken from houses, and on top of the walls and at the entrance of the buildings were placed sand bags, many of them made of silks, curtains, and garments, until the materials finally gave out and the fortifications had to be constructed of bricks alone.

When the allies relieved the forces besieged at Tientsin, notice was given to the ministers once more that they must leave Pekin at once, the military authorities promising to protect them on the route to Tientsin. The ministers replied that they would remain and would protect themselves. On June 27, when the time limit of this ultimatum had expired, the Chinese troops again attacked the legations with shells and rifle fire. The Chinese Government, or the military leaders who had usurped all authority, determined to expel them by force, and on June 26 a message was conveyed to the consuls in the treaty ports which announced that they were being convoyed down to Tientsin by imperial troops. The death of Baron von

Ketteler was reported, but was not officially acknowledged till July 1. When Tung-Fuhsiang renewed the attack on the legations, Yung-Lu got word to the allied forces through Sheng, the Director General of Railroads, urging their speedy advance, as he and Prince Ching were no longer able to control events in Pekin and the soldiery were rioting in the streets.

After the second attack of Tung-Fuhsiang's troops the Chinese authorities sent some food to the legations, which the ministers declined to accept. Further attacks were opposed by the 10,000 men of the Manchu garrison controlled by Prince Ching, who killed many Boxers and Kansu soldiers in endeavoring to drive them from their positions in front of the legations. At the same time edicts were published praising Boxers for their patriotic services in uprooting Christianity, and commanding viceroys and governors to expel missionaries and compel Chinese Christians to recant. The siege of the legations became closer than ever, and the Boxers pushed their line so near that they succeeded in undermining and blowing up a corner of the French legation. In their determination to destroy the British legation they burned the adjoining Hanlin Academy with its invaluable library. They edged their barricades close up to those of the legation and placed two guns in position to make a breach in the defenses. The defenders had an old Chinese cannon, for which they improvised ammunition, but they considered their position extremely critical when the American guards sallied out in the night of July 3 and killed many Boxers, and a larger force made a sortie on July 6, killing 200 soldiers of Tung-Fuhsiang's force. Heavy guns were then put in position to bombard the legations, and the Governor of Shantung himself reported that they were destroyed and all the Europeans killed. All the legations still standing were burned except the British, American, German, Japanese, and parts of the French and the Russian. All the members of the diplomatic corps took refuge behind the defenses of the British legation. At this time the Empress Dowager issued warlike edicts declaring that there could be no reconciliation with Christianity, which the whole nation, including military men, literati, nobles, and princes, had united to stamp out since the foreigners had begun a war against China; that the bitter feeling against foreigners had reached such a pitch that any attempt to put down the people would be dangerous; and that while the Empress was anxious to protect the legations, the Chinese people were willing to put it to a test whether they or the foreigners were stronger; hence all governors should immediately enroll troops for the defense of their districts and act according to local circumstances on their own judgment, but for any loss of territory they would be held to strict account. The Yangtse and southern viceroys did after this enlist troops and mount guns, but used the discretion confided to them to protest their innocence of hostile feelings toward Europeans and their intention to use their forces only for the suppression of anti-foreign or rebellious disorders. At the same time the Chinese provincial officials conveyed warnings to the Empress to protect the legations and to avoid a general war against foreigners, and through Chinese ministers abroad and foreign consuls they cautioned the powers that continued aggression, and above all an attack on Pekin, might result in disaster to the legations. The governors of 11 provinces in a joint memorial recommended protection to foreign merchants and missionaries, whether there was war or not, in order to preserve China's prestige as a civilized state, and the rescue of the ministers so as

to render negotiations still possible, in which the governments of the ministers saved might use their influence in China's favor; also an apology to Germany for the murder of Baron von Ketteler, and a proposal for the mediation of other powers, with assurances of China's good intentions to be given specifically to France and the United States; furthermore, full compensation for all losses of foreign lives and property, and orders to the military and civil authorities to punish bandits and marauding troops. Li-Hung-Chang, whom the Empress in her perplexity summoned from Canton to take the viceroyalty of Pechili and arrange matters with the powers, at the same time that he approached the United States and other powers with proposals of peace, informed the Empress that Great Britain and France made the heads of the Chinese Government personally responsible for the lives of their ministers and citizens in Pekin, and that it was necessary that the Boxer movement should be stopped altogether and the war party put down.

The first tidings received direct from the foreign ministers in Pekin was Mr. Conger's telegram of July 18, saying that they were under shot and shell and only quick relief would save them from massacre. The capture of Tientsin by the allies produced an immediate alleviation of the situation. The war party was no longer confident, and the troops that returned to Pekin with Gen. Nieh assisted the forces of Prince Ching and Yung-Lu to guard the legations. The memorial of the southern viceroys had its effect on the Empress Dowager, and still more the admonition of Li-Hung-Chang. From July 16 there was an armistice. The besieged, who were reduced to eating horseflesh, were able to obtain new supplies from outside, and foodstuffs, fruit, and vegetables were sent in by order of the Government. When an official of the Tsung-li-Yamen visited the legations on July 18 he renewed the proposal that the ministers should remove to Tientsin under an escort of imperial troops, until the population of Pekin became quiet and order was restored. An edict of July 18 enjoined protection of foreigners and promised compensation. The Banner troops attempted to clear away the Boxers and Kansu braves who still held the legations invested, and several encounters took place in the streets.

When the allies at Tientsin assumed the offensive again and made ready for the advance upon Pekin, the situation of the beleaguered Europeans became critical once more. Li-Ping-Heng, who took command of the defense of Pekin, began by beheading Hsu-Ching-Cheng, ex-minister to Russia, and another member of the Tsung-li-Yamen, because they advised making an effort to conciliate the powers. All food supplies were cut off from the legations, and the Chinese Government became more urgent and threatening in the demand that they should depart for Tientsin. Rifle firing was recommenced, and they strengthened their fortifications. Their ammunition was almost gone, and their provisions were so low that they reduced the rations. When Li-Ping-Heng and Tung-Fuhsiang left with their forces to resist the advance of the allies, Yung-Lu was able to give them more efficient protection. As soon as the ministers were permitted to send cipher dispatches to their governments, they all declared that foreign troops only could escort them safely. Besides being unwilling to trust a Chinese escort, they were unwilling to leave the Chinese converts to be massacred. Although the Russian and the Dutch governments authorized their ministers to accept the Chinese escort, all the ministers felt safer where they were, and no one was willing to break

up their union, although their situation was becoming desperate. On Aug. 5 shots were exchanged anew. In the incessant fighting for a month, 60 of the marines were killed and 110 wounded. The Americans, who held a strong and important position on the outer wall, had done valiant service and lost 16 men. The French and Austrians defended heroically the French legation, which was the key to the position and the post of danger, and they lost heavily, the Austrians half their number. When the Chinese forces retreated upon Pekin and the allies began their assault on the city, the legations were attacked fiercely, and were shelled even after the foreign troops entered the city. While the troops were bombarding the gates, guns in the imperial city were turned on the legations; and although Prince Ching ordered his officers to cease firing on pain of death, the fire was continued all day with artillery and musketry. The losses in the last days of the siege raised the total to 67 killed and 160 wounded. The losses that the legation guards inflicted on the Chinese from first to last were more than 3,000.

The Roman Catholics shut up in the north cathedral were attacked fiercely and incessantly from the time when the Boxers first entered Pekin. Bishop Favier and his priests, with 42 guards and 2,000 converts, were prepared for a long siege, having bought rifles and ammunition for some of the converts and an abundance of supplies. The Chinese attacked them day and night and battered the east face of the cathedral with shell fire. Once they exploded a mine, which killed both of the French officers and 3 of the guards, besides nearly 300 converts. The defenders still held out, and kept the Chinese out of the great breach they had made until it was repaired.

Intervention of the Powers.-The ministers at Pekin made the first formal demand for the arrest of members of the Boxer society who organized street disturbances and seditious meetings or circulated manifestoes against foreigners in a collective note delivered to the Tsung-li-Yamen on May 21. The Russian representative went alone to the Tsung-li-Yamen and endeavored to convince the Chinese ministers of the necessity of prompt and stringent measures for the suppression of the Boxer revolt. The Tsung-li-Yamen replied to the collective note on May 24, saying that the Government on May 17 issued a decree in accordance with which the provincial officials of Pechili had drawn up measures for dealing with the revolt which corresponded in their main features with the ones demanded, and would suffice for the destruction of the society and prevent further disturbances. The foreign ministers, considering this reply evasive and unsatisfactory, came together to discuss the landing of forces.

The secretary of the Tsung-li-Yamen went to the Russian minister to inform him that severe measures had been taken to suppress the Boxers. A detachment of troops had in fact been sent against them. A few days later the Boxers defeated this force, killing the commander and 60 soldiers. At this stage the Chinese Government, in its edicts and actions, showed remarkable vacillation and infirmity of purpose. The appointment of Li-Hung-Chang-who had already been exiled from the capital to Nankin-to the viceroyalty of Canton, where he was entirely out of touch with the capital, betrayed the desire of the dominant party to thrust aside every restraining influence. When the admirals demanded the surrender of the Taku forts, Admiral Kempf refused to join in the ultimatum or in the bombardment, for he thought it was against the policy and wishes of the United States Government to be entangled VOL. XL-8 A

with other foreign powers in such a step, and, moreover, that it endangered the lives of people in the interior in advance of absolute necessity for such drastic action. The act of the Chinese in opening fire without warning and in firing on the Monocacy he considered an act of open hostility that justified him in making common cause with the foreign forces for the protection of national honor and the preservation of American lives and property, and in this resolution he was confirmed later by the knowledge that the Chinese Government was paralyzed and in secret edicts showed sympathy with the Boxers.

When Admiral Seymour's force started from Tientsin, Boxers and a large part of the Kansu soldiery advanced from Pekin to tear up the railroad and meet the foreign invaders. They had first to deal with Nieh's troops that had been stationed along both the Tientsin and the Lu-Han lines to guard the tracks and stations. On June 5 they had a severe encounter with these troops near Tientsin, some of whom ran away, but some held their ground, and killed 500 Boxers. No further attempt was made by Nieh to protect the line, for his troops were ordered to retire, and he was censured for killing patriotic subjects. The Kansu soldiers and the Boxers then tore up the railroads very effectively, bending the rails by main strength, throwing bolts and fishplates away, and destroying the grade in the vicinity of Pekin. Tientsin was then besieged and Admiral Seymour's retreat intercepted. The United States Government decided on concurrent action with the European powers, while disclaiming an alliance, and Russia abandoned her independent attitude and joined in the accord. The admirals decided on an international blockade at Taku, and the occupation of a strip of territory where foreigners could take refuge under the guns of the fleets. This course was approved by all the foreign ministers at Pekin, who also discussed the advisability of demanding an audience with the Empress Regent.

GENERAL ADNA R. CHAFFEE.

The proposal of the foreign representatives at Pekin that a naval demonstration should be made by the powers in the Gulf of Pechili was not at first well received by the European cabinets. Russia in particular-and France following the lead of Russia-was very reluctant to intervene or even to exert pressure on the Chinese Government at a juncture when such action would excite to a higher pitch the anti-foreign sentiment in China and render it more difficult for the Empress Dowager to become emancipated from the influence of her European-hating advisers and listen once more to the rational statesmen of China. This led the Russian minister in Pekin to hold aloof from the earlier representations of his colleagues. Count Muravieff, down to the time of the Boxer irruption into Pekin, would not join in menaces or pressure, believing that the real state of things had been concealed from the Empress Dowager, and that if the Chinese Government were left alone, better

counsels would prevail. The situation in southern and central China, where a strong and growing revolutionary party aimed to upset the dynasty, seemed to the Russian chancellor to be more critical. The Japanese Government also was anxious not to complicate a position of affairs already serious. A cautious course was desired, too, by the United States. Germany, whose action had done most to rouse the national excitement, and Great Britain, which had followed the German initiative in the partition of China as a check to the spread of Russian influence, were least disposed to take account of the patriotic excitement they had done most to provoke, and took the lead in menacing the Chinese Government. No government, however suspicious of the motives of others, desired to precipitate an international crisis. None was prepared for isolated action, and a previous agreement among all the powers was understood to be the condition of any important step to be taken. Japan was received into this concert more thoroughly and cordially than before, and for military action was the most important member, because Japan alone had troops sufficient and ready to accomplish any operations in China that might become necessary. Russia made the first offer to lend troops for the suppression of the Boxers when the Chinese Government represented that the rebellion was too serious to be easily quelled with its own forces. This offer was followed by a similar one from Japan. Both were taken into consideration and courteously declined.

The admirals on June 5 decided in conference to assume, with the object of protecting the lives and property of their nationals, an attitude of armed defense, their military movements to be directed not against the Chinese Government, with which their countries were at peace, but against the insurgents seeking its overthrow. Should the rebels prove stronger than the Government, aid would be lent to the Government to quell them; but if the Chinese Government did not attack the rebels, then the allied powers would proceed to attack them. Each commander was to comply with the wishes or obtain the concurrence of his minister unless communication with Pekin should be severed. Should a situation arise affecting the interests of all the foreign powers in common, they agreed then to act in concert, seeking instructions from home if there were time to do so; but in case the emergency were too pressing, they would determine their course after consultation together. At a later meeting they agreed to land men at once on the motion of the American admiral. Meanwhile Admiral Seymour had sent re-enforcements at the request of the British minister, and his course was followed by other admirals until railroad communication was interrupted. Thereafter followed the march of an allied force under Admiral Seymour toward Pekin. The governments of the powers having naval forces in the Peiho America, Austria-Hungary, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Russia-gave full discretion to their admirals to act in consultation with the other senior naval officers as the emergency seemed to demand. The French admiral suggested giving command of the detachments that were sent up to Tientsin to Col. Wogack, a Russian officer of experience. The German admiral held it better that each detachment should act independently in concert with its consul until an emergency should arise making it necessary to unite them under a single command. The British admiral saw no necessity of choosing a commanding officer before a column started for Pekin. When the relief column did start the command was given to him as senior officer.

When all communications with Pekin were cut off and Admiral Seymour's relieving force was stopped, troops were dispatched to Taku from the nearest foreign garrisons-German troops from Kiaochau, British from Hong-Kong, Russians from Port Arthur, and Japanese troops. On June 14 a Russian force of 1,700 men left Tientsin to join Admiral Seymour, but only succeeded in rescuing his exhausted and decimated expedition. A Russian contingent of 6,000 soldiers was ordered to Taku to be at the disposal of the Russian minister. After the capture of the Taku forts the British Government arranged for the dispatch of 10,000 Indian troops under command of Sir A. Gaselee. A third brigade, intended for the protection of Shanghai and the British interests in the Yangtse valley, was mobilized while the allies were marching to Pekin. France arranged to bring the strength of its contingent up to 15,000 men. The Government of Great Britain sounded the Japanese Government on June 25 with reference to the immediate dispatch of 25,000 or 30,000 Japanese troops for the restoration of order in Tientsin and Pekin, and inquired of the Russian and German governments especially if they objected. Japan expressed a willingness to undertake the task on receiving assurances that it would not lead to complications with other powers. The Russian Government, while not disposed to give a mandate, did not wish to hinder Japan's freedom of action. The German Government would not assent to Japanese intervention unless convinced that the interests of third powers were left untouched. The Japanese Government ordered the mobilization of 22,000 men, and urged the advisability of an exchange of views as to joint measures, considering the troubles in the north of China so grave that an expedition of 70,000 men would be required, which it was not prepared to furnish without being indemnified for outlay of money as well as protected from complications by previous agreement among the powers. The British Government offered to guarantee the expense of an immediate expedition for the rescue of the legations, any ulterior operations to be left to future consideration.

Soon after the bombardment of the legations began detailed accounts were circulated from Shanghai that the ministers and other foreigners in Pekin were massacred. A report of that natur: was received later at St. Petersburg from Manchuria. It was reported also that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had been poisoned. After June 11 there was no telegraphic communication with Pekin, but a message from Sir Robert Hart came through by courier, declaring the situation desperate on June 25. The Chinese ministers in Europe and the United States and the viceroys in the south denied the stories that the ministers in Pekin were dead, though they admitted later that they had no authentic information.

Secretary Hay defined the attitude of the United States in a circular dispatch of July 3. Adhering to the policy initiated by the United States in 1857 of peace with the Chinese nation, the furtherance of commerce, and the protection of its citizens by all means guaranteed by extra-territorial treaty rights or by the law of nations, the United States Government proposed to hold responsible the authors of any wrong done to Americans, and viewed the condition in Pekin as one of virtual anarchy, whereby power and responsibility were devolved upon the local and provincial authorities, who, so long as they were not in collusion with the rebellion and used their power to protect foreign life and property, would be regarded as representing the Chinese people, with whom the United