11th Jan.
Iw is not altogether surprising to learn by wire that the terms offered py the Allies have not yet received the Imperial sanction. As long as the Chinese learn that certain Powers consider the terms excessively hard, or propose to remove the negotiations from Peking, they will procrastinate feeling certain that time is on their side, Li Hung-chang falls ill, and nothing will be done until he recovers, and he will not recover until the Allies unite in presenting a peremptory ultimatum.
Meantime the Viceroy Chang Chih-Court to return to Peking, find itis tung is only formally begging the
not going back there to be within the control of foreign troops. Chang Chih-tung is urging the establishment of a new capital on or close to the Yangtze; not at Wuchang, because big foreign ships can get up to Hankow, but farther westward in Hupeh between Shasi and Ichang. Kingchoufu, a little north-west of Shasi, is suggested as a very suitable place. It is believed that the Emperor would return to Peking if he could, but he is still a close prisoner with no means of escape.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.