To the Editor of the published Peking approving duct, so that the pub One hardly knows which to regard with the, aantentinteroat: the pithy despatch the Are mari: parry of M. Ferry's diplomatic rapier by the Versatile Marquis, with another telegram, which for "nct has arrested th point of the Frouch Minister's weapon There can be no daub that although the general terms of MI. ricwu's despatch covered mere ground than wat intended to be taken in by the message real ud purport was substantially teus. For is is vepen secret that wh tricoa and the French otlicers in suite tonk leave of HA. Li Hang-chi Ubat statesman strenuously declared that China d d not intend declaring war against France; and this expression was la fact reply to jo by the French that the Marq 1g was threat ening France with war unless she gave up her action Li Hang-cliany ments to those wh Drowght tv his unties as havi manifested at Paris by Marq: "ing, but he even tit the French envoy chay he hoped France would nut declare war M. Tricow was therefore perfectly correct in twlezraphing to his Government that Li Hung-chang avowed the policy of Marquia Tréng. be calli ut it was absolutely assertion may have been tuo general not to
true in rey war policy of the Chinese Ambassador in Paris—which was the only portion of Marquis Teéug's cou-duct that hnd attracted "trout His assertions about the suzerainty of over Tonquin have long since b dered not worth listening to.
conversant with the actual ai ware that the Chiuded in their evut interested in ould indulge in his own private appreciations of the tical difficulties with Feauce just as the geoat meu in Peki lly spoxking, Li ut; and anything wht aay may be or may not be con-that Go: now on the war-p: disavow what th One might make the Marquis Tedng a present of all the good by cam get out of the despateh of the Tat Yamin xpproving his conduct, without allowing that proved M. 'Tricou to have sent accurate mess use to MI Ferry. One might just as well call in doubt the accuracy of the Peking telegram, and impute to the Marquis Teéug and his friends the trick of try' npose on th ment European platitudes he has been uttering during the last few months are reellly approved of at Peking. What is approved of energy in trying to get 028 sue hins been placed in, clietly joyous adherence to the the whole history of Marqu's Tsdug' negotiations and letters and conversation and speeches and promptings to the British press has been put together and collated, i robable that he will be found to have misled his own Government just s much as he has deceived his admirers in England and elsewhere. Ue has imagined that Chinn has acquired the sympathy of Great Britain and of other for the reason that he h been listened to just as the Italian yokele in the opera listened to and believed in the uosteams of Dottore Duleunara; and he seems to have infected the mind of the Chinese Government with the sume deluthat have made him hallucinate ho support of the great Western Powers in " question that really concerns them all precious little, unless it be the interest they must all take in seeing C rendered amenable by a severe lesson in diplomacy and war to their reivorated demands for the fulfilment of the spirit of the trouties that closed the Into wae with this empire.
assertion of Murquiv tecing culled forth the dismpprobation chang is that the French attack as Bacuinh would be om sidered by China asa cuss belli. There is no doubt that it was w most compromising declaration make on the part of Eh Jersuch a circumstance would war, It was this assertion which accord. ing to recent news determined the French ise and send out their 60, and Marquis 'Tedug responsible for all the consequences of auch an important step on the part of Franes, which necepts hin meinco nnd meat it' deserves, It remaina to be sen how far the Chinese Gu vernment will apof the Marquis's imprudent threat, nds that it will justify claim for honey indemnity by Franco to cover the of ant expedition that he has been cause of bringing about, Lr will be a fortunate ending to his proswut diplo-if Marqn does not elf in & Worre position than embassy ty Rus The Chinese Government: will not Jato to sacrifice their own envoy if he ry int, or should he barrass the Poking Cabinet.
Pw growt statesman of Chinn who told Marquis Prony, and it can be ject of dove regret to all thaw who desire the preservative of peace that Li Chung-thong was not sent to Pa long supersede the noble Marquis who has brought the © to the very were not now wish immediate departure of Li chang for Paris; for with hi aummate kuowledse wud experience diplomatic conferences he sould termine for prev conflict that is imminent, wh detrimental to China whatever way it terminates, and which every friend of Chinn would desire to see averted.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.