The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-09-08
May Mean Independent Action by
United States.
Col. Daggett Recommended by GEN.
ChaGfee for Promotion.

Washington, d. c., September Min
lister WI arrived in Washington from
Cape May this afternoon, and although it
was near the close of the official day. he
proceeded directly to the state depart
ment 1t is understood that he had re-
ceived an intimation that the depart
msnt officials were DESTROYS of comforting
with him, hence his return to Washing
ton. For nearly an hour the minister
was closetsd with Acting Secretary Hill
and Assistant Secretary Adee. the door
being locked meantime and not even
the messengers allowed entrance. None
Of the parties to the conference were
communicative as to the conference but
at its conclusion, DIR. Hill repaired to the
White House with a portfolio, well filed
with papers. For several hours preced-
ing the minister's visit, Acting Secretary
Hill and Assistant Secretary Adee had
been engaged in shOr5 conferences and
it was gathered that the negotiations
were approaching another phase3 and
that another prOnOuncement of some
kind was in preparation. The fact is re
called that when the United States made
It's response to the Russian note on the
Goth ultimO, the .officials here Eek pressed
thu belief that about a week S time would
be required to determine upon the next
step, and at the END of that time 1t would
be definitely known Whether.or not the
troops were to be Withdrawn from Pekin.
That period OF time has now elapsed.
The reports from the European chanceI-
tories indicate that, officially at least.
this important subject is being treated
with the greatest elaboration and at
least another week. and probably even
more time, may be consumed in framing
the last OF the answers to the Russian
note.
Meanwhile our government has pretty
well satisfied itself as to the attitude to.
wards this last proposition OF each and
all of the powers interested IN the Chinese
problem. 1t may be that this knowledge
is regarded as sufficient upon which TO
base another forward and perhaps in this
case an independent movement by the
United States towards the ultimate with
drawaI Of the troops and the settlement
with China, which the government has
had IN mind since the beginning of the
trouble.
The consultations with Mr. WI are
believed to have been inspired by a desire
to learn something of the personality of
Chinese nOtables whose names have been
suggested as proper to constitute the Chi
nese side of any commission which may
be named to arrange a settlement of the
difficulties.
Mr.. Wa is an ardent adherent Of Earl
LII
There is much speculation here as to
the personnel Of the American commits
sioners, in case the peace negotiations
SHOULD be entrusted to such a body and
the names Of men prominent in interna-
t1onal affairs in recent years all have
been canvassed. Included In this list is
the name of General John w. Foster,
but it is regarded as much more probable
that If he appears at all in these negoti-
atlOns 1t VIII be In his Old place as a rep.
resentative of the Chinese government
he was associated with Ii Hung Chang
during the peace negotiations which
closed the Chino Japanese war and it is
said that Earl Lii has a high sense of APP
probation OF his work for China then.
There was a dearth of official iDfOrlma-
ton from China today. General Chaffee
got through a despatch dated Septem-
Der ] at Pekin, indicating that couriers
are still employed to close the gap in the
line OF communication between lien
Tsin and Pekin. This despatch made no
mention OF the military situation and
it was inferred that affairs in Pek1n re-
main quiet.
The message was as follows:
Copy OF cablegram received September
6, 1900.
Taku, Adjutant General, Washington.
Pekin, September Following ex-
tract my report cabled:
II wish to special Colonel
Aaron S. Daggett, 18th United States in
fantry for his gallantry at Yang Tsun
August 9th -- and good judg-
ment gin the attack on Pekin, August
18th and for gallantry and excellent su-
perv1sion OF the attack OF the imperial
city, August 10Th. / recommend that
he be made a br1gadier general u. S, A.
Col, Daggett has nine months to serve
before arriving slxty-fOur. If promoted
brigadier general he will gladly accept
retirement Immediately on promotion.
Chaffee
If this government is taking any meas
ures urging the return of the imperial
family TO Pek1n, the responsible officials
decline TO make any statement on the
subject. Such a step however, on the
part OF the Chinese officials, it is pointed
out, would be highly desirable ana might
be an important factor in facilitating
the progress OF the negotiations for q
peaceful settlement of the existing trou-
bles. With the responsible heads of the
Chinese empire at the ca pital city, in
direct communication with the represent
tatlves OF the allied powers, much more
satisfactory results could be accom-
plished than by negotiating through sub
ordinates.
Nothing came to the state department.
today from Consul John GOodnow at
Shanghai, confirmatory of the press re-
port chat LII Hung Chang had asked for
an American escort to Pekin. In the alb |
sence OF notification Of such request the
officials here prefer not to make any
statement aS to their reoaDt1On Of sI1ch |