Peking, Dec. 16.
The Russian ex-Consuls from Kiachta and Kobdo, the Vice-Consul at Urga and the Commandant of the Urga Consular guard arrived in Peking to-day. They left Urga with 16 motor-cars and arrived at Kalgan with eight.
They bring confirmation of the pitiful condition of the Russian and Mongol prisoners. There are 450 Russians in the Chinese gaol, foodless, filthy, without clothes and abused by the soldiery.
The newly arrived officials state with conviction that the present attacking force numbers nearly 3,000 and that it is led by Baron Ungern, with his present headquarters at Menza on the Siberian frontier northeast of Urga. The Chinese authorities are holding the Russian colony es a hostage, threatening them with extermination if the Chinese are defeated. The whole comniunity are convinced that the invaders have been invited and financed by the Hutukhtu, hoping for liberation from Chinese tyranny.
Dirtomats' Furraer Protest To The Diplomatic Body replied to the Note from the Foreign Minister, Dr. Yen, on the Russian situation on Tuesday in outline as foliows:—"They welcome the Chinese assurances of favourable treatment to the Russians, hoping that, as they have been ratified by Presidential mandate, they will be applied; but they. the Legations, would indicate that Dr. Yen's note leaves several questions unsolved. Because these touch on foreign interests the Diplomatic Body must request further details.
Four queries are then put. First, will the police in Russian concessions be ruled by the Municipal Councils and will the Chinese authority be exercised through the councils or independently
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.