Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-21
Ii Hung Chang's Request for Peace
Commissioner Denied.
DECIDED At THE CABINET MEETING
Not Certain There is a Responsible
Government in China.
THE HAVANA UNIVERSITY

| Ii Hung Chang is to receive an answer to
| his proposition for the appointment Of a
commission to discuss the question of peace.
| This answer states that the United States
| will be unable to consent to the appointment
Of such a commission until 1t Is aware that
there is a government in China with which
| this government can deal In the matter of
making terms Of peace. The wording of
the note to Ii Hung Chang will be diplo-
matte. but in substance it will be that there
| is now no evidence that a government of
any kind worthy the name exists in China.
More Grave Than Ever.
| The answer to Lii Hung Chang, together
| with dispatch that had been received from
Minister Conger, was discussed at the cabi-
net session, with the conclusion stated. The
cabinet regards the situation in China now
as more grave than ever before. The Presi-
| dent and his cabinet virtually regard the
! country and it's millions of inhabitants as an
| enormous, headless affar-without knowl-
| edge of what it wants or intends to do, but
| capable. by reason of its enormity and
/ strength. of being dangerous to those who
| are attempting once again to warp it into
| shape fit to know and recognize its duties
/ to the world.
| The flight of the empress and emperor
II the latter is alive, has apparently left
| China in state of chaos. The empress
| hasn't the strength, through herself. the
| viceroys. or the remaining troops, to re-
| store order. She has virtually abdicated
and left the situation to care for itself. If
| this Is the case the civilized countries have
before them the great proposition of estab-
| fishing a government or seeing that one is
| established
No Government Exists in China.
| There has been grave fear in administra-
| ton circles for many weeks that virtually
/ nvfof cd tn hot Inn
preston has been steadily gaining ground
since. and the conclusion is now almost
| unanimous that China is without a govern
| ment. Prior to the present troubles 1T had
been practically nothing. In the viceroys Is
vested most of the power of China. Their
| appointment Is due to the central govern
| ment, but there has been nothing to pre-
vent their doing as they pleased toward
| that government. If the little government
| that ever existed at Pekin has been under
| mined by the riotfng, or went over to the
| rioters, then that leaves great empire
| without responsible source, and the civil
ized world will be compelled to remain at
Pekin until a government Of some kind is
established-until a stable government is
| established, in fact Too far ahead. and too
grave, is the question of what that govern
| ment shall be and of what 1t shall consist.
The President virtually takes the position
| that China must prove that she has a gov
ernment capable of keeping it's promises
and keeping the peace hereafter before he
can enter into negotiations He has no
knowledge of what he is negotiating with
While he looks upon Lii Hung Chang az a
| great and eminent Chinaman, he does not
know that Earl Ii is the chosen represent
| ative of a government capable of dealing
with another government.
May Remain in China.
| Should the final position of this country
| be that China is without a government the
| United States is then committed to remain
l ;,,r
| and until the vast empire is again running
| smoothly. In that respect this country will
| again be identified with Europe whose obli-
cations will be equal in giving the world
| a responsible government in China. The
many questions to come up before stable
government could be put in operation are
| appreciated. but the President feels that
| he has duty to perform and that he can
not shirk this duty owing to immense work
ahead.
| Indemnity, in the shape of cash at least
| cannot be had when there is no government
capable of making a sound guarantee of
payment. 1t is too well known that China
has no money now. Whatever cash would
| be demanded by this country would have to
| be paid In the course of years. This coun-
| try does not care to have the promise of
| an alleged government that will break the
promise a few years after 1t is made. 1t
wants assurance that sound government
| is yet standing or can stand in China, and
IL must nave tnlS assurance before II con-
| tinues negotiations other than those carried
| on by the force Of arms, as at present.
The Havana University Protest.
Dr. j. A. Frias, a prominent Cuban, was
| at the White House today and left for the
President memorial from the professors
of the University Of Havana and repre-
sentatives Of scientific societies of Cuba
protesting against orders issued by Gen.
Wood for the reorganization of that insti-
tuition Accompanying the memorial was a
| letter from Dr. Frias, who is attorney,
| professor in the university and former
| mayor of Cfenfuegos. Cuba.
In his letter to the President Dr. Frias
says that the reforms made by Gen. Wood
are unanimously opposed by Cubans. He
urges that Cuba should be allowed to look
after her own schools, just as each state
ir this country has that right. Cuba
should be left to Teorganize her university
by herself" he says. He sees no hurry
to change conditions in the university
Dr. Frias says that Gen. Wood has ig-
nored the vested right Of nearly fifty
cuban teachers, professors who entered the
university by means of competition or had
| been in their chairs more than twenty
years He asserts that the Importance
of the university has been lowered He
| says that proof of the sentiment of Cuba
is found in the fact that the only request
| made Of the President by the 1 400 teach
ers who were In Washington few days
ago was that he revoke the orders of Gen
Wood and allow the Cubans to manage the
| institution themselves.
Representative Taylor n Caller.
Representative Taylor of Ohio was at the
White House today and had talk with
the President Mr. Taylor represents the
Presidents district in the House. and the
Ohio campaign will be opened in that dis
trict at Youngstown, on September g. Mr..
Taylor is perfectly confident of republican
success In the country this year. OF Ohio
he said: There Is nothing in the state that
Is unusual. 1t Is going to give its usual
perialism will not reduce the republican
majority. 1t will cut no figure to speak Of
II there are any Germans in Ohio whose
souls are vexed by the ghost of Imperialism
and militarism I don't know where thew
are The Germans In Ohio are Americans
and are Just as firm In their convictions as
other Americana"