Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-10
Ii Hung Chang Has Authority to
Settle Peace Terms.
EDICT OF TEE CHINESE EMPEROR
Gen. Chaffee Thinks Pekin VIII
Be Merely Military Camp.


today delivered to the State Department an
imperial edict comforting on Ii Hung Chang
absolute and unconditional authority to ne
gotiate with the powers for peace and for
the settlement of questions growing out of
the war The edct Is dated on the last day
Of the seventh moon, Chinese calendar,
which is about August "a. 1t Is issued by
the emperor. and not by the empress dow
ager, indicating that the former Is now ex-
ercising those imperial functions which
some Of the powers. notably Great Britain,
have insisted belong to him, rather than to
the empress dowager. The document does
not show the point at which 1t was issued,
but it was transmitted through Pao-Ting- fu
and probably emanated there. as the i'm
perial household has been at that point for
some time.
Conference With Minister WI.
After receiving the edict, Acting Secretary
Hill took 1t to the White House in order
that the President might see 1t before his
departure from the city. An extended con-
ference also was held between Mr.. Hill and
Minister WI concerning the extensive au-
thority with which Ii Hung Chang is now
invested. The edict makes him the sole
negotiator on the part Of China, giving him
discretion to act finally, and in a manner to
bind China, without interference from the
emperor. His sole authority may yet be
restricted, however, as the date Of the edict
Is prior to the request sent by Ii Hung
Chang to the throne that the viceroys of
Nankin and WI Chang and Prince Ching
be included with him negotiators. This
request has not yet been responded to by
the throne, SO far as the Chinese minister
here Is advised, but IL Earl LIS request is
granted, there Is no doubt the commission
will carry the same absolute authority
with which Ii Hung Chang has now been
invested. Minister WI says the authority
Is so complete as to remove any possible
question as to the sufficiency of creden-
tails.
Advices From Chaffee.
The following message was received from
Gen. Chaffee at Pekin:
"TAKU.
"Adjutant General. Washington:
Two afternoon 4th. Evidence accumu-
lates that diplomatic relations will not be
resumed here for long time. Russian lega-
ton leave very soon for Tien Tsin. APP
pears to me certain Chinese government
will not return here while foreign army
remain, and If this be true our legation can
transact no business. My opinion PekIn is
to be merely the camp of a foreign army
pending settlement by powers at other
points. CHAFFEE."
Early Withdrawal Desired.
Gen. Chaffee's dispatch is in line with
that officers former declarations respect
ing the advisability Of withdrawing the
American troops from Pekin. Undoubted-
iy put in the formal manner 1t Is, the
generals last utterance must have weight
with the administration and will undoubt-
edly cause the government to increase its
efforts to effect some sort Of a. settlement,
that will permit. of an early withdrawal
from China. =.
The conditions reported by Gen. Chafree
appear to warrant the double conclusion
that in the first place. Mr.. Conger Will
speedily leave Pekin for one Of the ports
on the coast; where he can act more eff
fectively. and, In the second place, that
the United States troops will not respond
to the German invitation to make fur.
Their offensive campaign outside Of Pekin
1t is believed that the objects that remain
to be accomplished can be secured without
further military operations. as far as the
United States troops are concerned II. :.
Objections to Shanghai.
The idea Of removal of the diplomatic
center to Shanghai meets with some objec-
ton from those familiar with the condi-
tons It Is said that Shanghai is practi-
cally cut off from Pekin as soon as winter
sets in. full month being required to ex-
change communication. 30 that 1t would be
inadvisable to thus suspend the chance of
ready communication with the capital
Baron Sternberg, the German charge,
had a talk with Secretary Hill this MORN
Ing. but 1t led to no material change
Gen. Waldersee's Coming.
1t is understood that Count Won Wal
dersee will arrive at Hong Kong. go thence
to Shanghai and then to T1en Tsin which
will be his military base He is due at
Hong Kong about the end of this week
and at Shanghai three days later.
CHING RETURNS TO PEKIN,