Show EARL LIS CREDENTIALS They Were Issued by Empress Dow affcr Not by Emperor Washington Aug 31It has developed devel-oped In the course of the careful consideration con-sideration which officials have given to Li Hung Changs credentials that they were issued by the Empress Dowager and not by the Emperor Kwang Hsu This may have an Important bearing on the subject as It opens up the authority of the Empress Dowager Quthorty coup detat of September 9 189S when she took the reins of power from the hands of the Emperor I Involves also the Issues between the Empress Dow sager who is antiforeign and the Emperor Em-peror who is proforeign Still a further fur-ther consideration is the Russian sympathies sym-pathies entertained by the Empress I Dowager a against the British sympathy sym-pathy held by the Emperor Thus far however there has been no question Ing of the credentials on an qucslon personal grounds mentioned although alhough they are forcible In shaping the action acton of the several powers LIS WHEREABOUTS Although the exact whereabouts of Li Hung Chang continues to be In doubt It is understood In undertood diplomatic circles that he Is now In continuous communication with the imperial household and thus Is enabled to convey con-vey to them the prospect of a return to the Chinese capital The expected re turn of Prince Chlng to Peking is said to be a result of this communication I between Earl Li and the Imperial fam ily and to be the Initial move of re I sponslble authorities toward the capl clpl tal There is reason to believe also that Earl LI is i now In frequent telegraphic I tele-graphic communication with European capitals although Washington has not received H word from him since August 21st the date of the last appeal for peace Some significance is attached to this as Indicating that Earl LI falling to get from Washington an acceptance ac-ceptance of his overtures turned to Europe and more particularly to Run sia partcularly Tus siaADVISED ADVISED BY AN AMERICAN I was stated today a an additional reason for American acceptance of LI Hung Chang that his confidential secretary sec-retary and adviser is an American Mr Pethlck formerly of the Amerrcan 111 former consular con-sular service at Tien Tsln Mr Pethlck is known to have great Influence with the Viceroy and among the officials among here is regarded as 0 man of excep tional ability and scrupulous of Integrity |