The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-14
EARL LIS CREDENTIALS
AS PEACE ENVOY PRESENTED To The
STATE DEPARTMENT
NEITHER ACCEPTED OR REFUSED
Our Administration Not Ready to Act
I'm this Materials Application for
to Taku-Orders for Russian and
French Withdrawal From Pekln
Issued-Can for Vengeance tor Pao
Ting Flu

Washington, September u.-Frorn
n formal statement given out today
1t appears that the state department is
no yet ready to begin its direct nego-
tiations with Lii Hung Chang. II does
not question his credentials as a plen-
ipotentiary. but simply leaves that
matter in allegiance. Probably this is
because all OF the powers have not yet
returned their responses to the Rus
sian note and il is desired to avoid
making the United States the first
among h powers 10 abandon the
hope of harmonious action, and strike
for itself toward the settlement direct
ly with China. Also, it may be deemed
well TO wait TO ear from Mr.. Conger,
who, several days ago, was invited TO
express his opinion about quitting Pc
kin.
Acting Secretary Hill was in consul
tation today with Attorney General
Griggs, and both were in cimmunica-
ton by wire with the president, but
ii was said at the state department
that beyond the publication of this
exchange between Minister WI and
acting Secretary Hill, and of the neg
at1Ve fact that all the responses TO the
Russian note were not yet in, h de-
partment could not add to the stock
of information as to Chinese develop
mentS today.
Minister WI was twice at the de-
partment. 1t was understood that his
last call was in part, at least, to Sc
cure transportation for Lii Hung Chang
from Shanghai to Taku on a United
States vessel. His later call was to
receive the answer of the department
to that application, Is we'll as to the
communication respecting Ii Hung
Chang's functions.
The answer returned by the state
department to the latter communica-
ton apparently made it unnecessary
at this time to pursue the inquiry as
to the ship; if Ii may not enter into
negotiations at present, there is no
occasion to transport him to Taku.
AT any rate no call was made on the
navy department for a ship for the
purpose indicated.
Washington, September 1.-THE
state department this afternoon issued
the following:
The following communication was
handed to acting Secretary of State
Hill on September 10th, by the Chinese
minister:
"~Cablegram from Earl Lii Hung
Chang, dated the 18th, September 1901
transmitted by the Chinese minister
at ST. Petersburg under date of the
9th September, and received by Min
lister WI on the last named date.
81 am in receipt Of an imperial
edict of the Both month CAugust "a,
1900 transmitted by way of Pao Ting
Flu. 1t is as follows:
eli Hung Chang, envoy plenipoten-
tiary is hereby vested with full dis
cretionary powers, and he shall
promptly deal with whatever questions
may require attention. From this dis
lance we will not control his actions.
Let this edict be forwarded with ex-
ira expedition at the rate of six hun-
dred Ii per day (tO Earl LID for his
information m guidance. Respect
this
To the above communication acting
Secretary Hill has handed Mr.. WI the
following reply:
The United States does not feel
called upon to express any opinion at
this time as to the sufficiency of Ii
Hun Chang's authority, but hopes it
will transpire that his credentials are
full and authoritative, not only for ne
collation., but to enable him without
further delayto give ASSURANCE that
the life and property of Americans will
henceforth be respected through the
Chinese empire"