Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-17


on the legations in Pekin has not
ceased. While these attacks continue
we cannot stop the advance of our
forces toward Pekin If such attacks
cease. the above quoted instructions
| will be allowed to stand, and they would
seem to provide for all the action re-
quired under the circumstances stated
by Earl Ii in his despatch
"ALVEY A. ADEE,
Acting Secretary.
Department of State. Washington.
August 16, 1907
At the same time the authorities gave
out the latest dispatches from Min
lister Conger received to-day through
the Chinese minister, Mr.. WI. 1t was
embodied in an official statement.
The Appeal OF China
and the prompt response of the Amer
lean government were the subject of
supreme interest throughout the day
Coming at a moment when the allied
armies were in the shadow of the great
walls of Pekin, the circumstances in
which the correspondence occurred were
OF peculiarly momentous character
The President had just returned from
brief respite at Canton and going to
the White House, found his advisers
ready TO present to him the issue now
advanced by China. The appeal from
Ii Hung Chang came first to the Chin
csc minister, who. early in the day con-
veyed it to the department of state
Although it was not the regular day
for a meeting of the cabinet. word was
conveyed to those cabinet officers in the
city that special cabinet session
would be held at II o'clock. Secre-
tary Root, who has been a guiding fac
tor in the Chinese negotiations, was
with the President before the meet
ing opened, presenting the Chinese
communications and the dispatches of
instructions already sent to General
Chaffee. With the President at the
cabinet table were Secretaries Root,
Gage, Wilson and Postmaster General
Smith. The conclusions reached can
be stated best by reference to the sue
ctnct response of the United States
government set forth in the official an
nouncement
After the cabinet meeting the Amer
lean reply was sent to the Chinese min
| lister, who later in the day, cabled it
TO Ii Hung Chang.
Thus the Issue Was Framed.
finally and unalterably.
The United States declined even to
consider the proposition of Ii Hung
| Chang for halt and an acnistice at
j sung Chau. Even the supreme APP
| peal of the venerable Chinese states
man that the Chinese empire would be
| shaken by an advance of the allies be-
! yond Tung Chau was not needed. The
answer of the United States is that
| our position is the same now as it has
| been from the outset, namely, that
| the ministers must be delivered at the
walls of Pekin and under such cir
| cumstances as will meet the Judgment
/ OF the military commanders on the
| spot
| 1t will be observed that the Ameri-
can memorandum OF reply gives Ii
| Hung Chang practically nothing be-
yond repetition OF the two dispatches
| heretofore sent 10 General Chaffee
| The first despatch of August 18th,
| gives a sharp response to Earl LIS
| first communication laying down the
| condition that "the forces composing
| the relief expedition should be per-
| mitted to enter PeSin unmolested"
| The second despatch of August 14th.
merely amplities General Chaffees au-
| tbority in anticipation of China's ac-
| ceptance of the American demand that
| the relief column must enter Pekin. ,"
This second order to General Chaffee
! is predicated solely upon the presence
| OF
The Allied Forces at PeI<fn.
| 1t specifically states that II the Chi
| nese authorities are willing to deliver
| the legatitoners to relief column at
| Pekin." then General Chaffee Is au-
| thoriZed 10 make and carry out an ar
rangement in concert with other com
manders without awaiting the slow
/ process of a reference TO Washington
| Whether this arrangement thus freely
committed to General Chagfee Is to be
| an aTmistice, a truce or some other de-
! vice of military science, is for him to
! decide at Pekin. The two dispatches
| 10 General Chaffee contemplate action
| only al Pekin. and ii is for him to de-
/ termine upon the manner of delivery
| at the inner gate or at the outer wall.
Thus there can be no misunderstand-
| ing of the issue as made up. Ii Hung
| Chang's appeal for an armistice at
! Tung Chow is rejected; and the con
| tinually reiterated demand OF the Unit
| ed States that the ministers be de-
livered TO the allied troops at Pekin is
| REINFORCED.
The latest dispatche from Minister
| COnger was
| Scanned With Eager Interest.
| but it brought little information be-
yond that already in hand. In one re-
| spect, however. it gave the government
strong encouragement, as it was al
most categorical answer to the in
| quiries Of the State Department This
was the first definite knowledge that
we were in direct touch with our min
| lister, for all OF his dispatches up TO
! date had conveyed information with
/ out reference to the repeated inquiries
OF the government That the situation
| is desperate is shown by his statment
| that one of the attacks upon the lega-
| ton occurred the night before the dis
patch was sent. In response TO the re-
quest Of the State Department, Mr.