New-York tribune., 1900-09-04
A LULL IN NEGOTIATIONS.
STATE DEPARTMENT STILL AWAITING
REPLIES FROM THE POWERS.
ANOTHER UNDATED MESSAGE SENT BY
MINISTER CONGER
FBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.


Washington Sept 3-If any replies from the
Powers 20 the memorandum of August ~ IN
regard to the proposed withdrawal of the inter
national troops from Peking were received to-
dav they were withheld from the public and
there is slight prospect that any information on
that subject will be obtained from the state
Department until after all the Powers nave
responded. Officials OF the Department VIII
neither deny nor confirm the press dispatches
received from the European capitals on the same
subject but they appear to feel hopeful that all
the Powers will be able to agree on future
programme. The memorandum of August ~
defining the views OF the United States on the
proposition 10 withdraw from Picking. furnished
a basis for discussion of alternative PROPOSE
tions. OF which some Of the Powers VIII prop
ably avail themselves. but as yet no Official IN
timation has been received which indicates that
any OF them will finally disagree to the propo-
sition Of the United States which was in strict
harmony with the policy enunciated in Mr.
Hays note Of July 3. to which all the POWERS
gave their assent
The Rockhin interview published this morning
excited some comment in Official circles, and the
opinion was general that it was unauthorized,
although it is known that in many respects it
accurately reflects views frequently expressed
by Mr.. Rockhill in private conversation with his
friends here.
THE SITUATION IN PEKING.
The situation in Peking, however. appears TO
be as vague and indistinct. viewed from Peking,
as it does seen from here, owing to the lack OF
full and definite official information a lack
Which it is hoped may soon be supplied. Some
light was perhaps thrown on that situation for
the benefit of official eyes by dispatch received
late last night from Brigader-General Barry.
who is serving as Major General Chaffee's chief
of staff. A portion OF this dispatch was made
public to-day, follows:
Adjutant-General, Washington:
General Chaffee has everything well in hand.
His driving power materially assisted the
prompt relief Of the Legation. Considering ar
duous services, the condition OF the troops is eX
cellent. BARh1
This was interesting, but it was only about
one-fourth Of the dispatch. The other three
fourths were withheld the Secretary of War
saying that the remainder of the message re
lated to matters of detail" which remark only
sharpened curiosity that could not be gratifed
A MESSAGE FROM CoNGER
A dispatch from Minister Conger was received
By the State Department to-day. 1t was chiefly
interesting as being the first word from him
since his dispatch of about August p, referring
20 the proposed parade Of troops through the
Imperial Palace in Peking. Like that dispatch
this is undated The contents were not made
materially changing the situation. The lack of
date led to determination to take energetic
steps by which all dispatches hereafter coming
70 the State Department from China will have
the date clearly stated.
Among the official dispatches received at the
War Department was the following from Sur
geon-Major Perley, commanding officer Of the
hospital transport Relief:
Taku (no date).
Surgeon-GeneraI Washington.
Banister reports 120 sick at front ana ZVo at
Tien-Tsin Many slightly i'll. All wounded
brought from front. Relief will take all severe
cases. Launch and boats have retnTneu'
Plenty supplies. Ali doing we'll PERLEf.
IT is inferred that by "the 'front.' Major Per
lev means Peking and possibly Tung-Chow
where a detachment of United States troops
may have been left when the main body ad-
vanced.
1t is apparent from the press dispatches thai
troops are almost constantly going forward from
Tien-Tsin to Peking. and that communication
between the two places, both by the river anc
road. is kept Open which makes it all the more
aifscuIt TO understand why news does not conn
through more promptly and frequently from tn
latter The officials all declare that nothing o
general interest has been received that has no
been given to the press and official assurance
must of course, be accepted The press dis
patches from China also belated. and aston
ishngly meagre as to details of importance
general interest
INVOKING VICEROYS' INFLUENCE.
According to press dispatches there are som
indications that the Ministers in Peking ar
making efforts, with some prospect Of success 4
place themselves in communication with re
sponsibIe officials of the Chinese Government
and also that the Yangtse VicerOys may b
called upon TO exert their efforts and influenc
10 the same end and to aid in the restoration
of public order throughout the empire. If tn
latter fully commanded the confidence Of tn
Empress Dowager, the plan would appear
feasible one Lin Kun Yih, the Viceroy of tn
Provinces of Kiang-Su. Kiang-Si and Ngan
HUI whose official headquarters are at Nankinl
and Chan Chih Tung, Viceroy of the Province
OF Hope and Ho-Nan, whose official residence
Hankow, hold official sway over more tina
one hundred million people The former has a
army Of respectable size and a small iotilla {
armed vessels at his command. OF the arm
Sir Charles Beresford, who visited Nanking NV
years ago, says in The Break Up of China:
His ExceIlency the Viceroy Liu Kwen vi IS SUI
posed TO have 20,o00 troops under his command
about 5000 Of them. They a fine body
men; many of them of splendid physique. The m;
jority Of them were Human The infantr
were armed with three different kinds of rifles tn
being observable even in companies OF the POO
men, 10000 would be required TO garrison the fer
the river The well clothed and Al
parenty well fed, but well drilled or discipline
At klang-Zin there Is a garrison of 1900 me
under General Ii, which comprises six z
batteries of artillery and two squadrons of cavalr
saw these men on parade as well man9uvrir