The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-14

8, appointing Lii Hung Chang envoy
plenipotentiary to conduct negotiations
on the part Of China with the powers
and the request Cor 2. cessation of hos
tilities pending negotiations, commu-
nicated TO Mr.. Adee by Mr. WI on the
18th of August. 1900.
THE government of the United
| States learned with satisfaction OF the
! appointment OF Earl Lii Hung Chang
as envoy plenipotentlary to conduct ne
| gotiations with the powers, and will.
| on its part. enter upon such negotia-
tions with a desire to continue the
friendly relations so long existing be-
tween the two countries.
1T is evident that there can be no
\ general negotiation between China and
the powers so long as the ministers OF
/ the powers and the persons under their
protection remain in their present posi-
| ton of restraint and danger and that
the powers cannot cease their efforts
| for the delivery of those representa-
| tives to which they are constrained by
| the highest consideration of national
honor. except under an arrangement
adequate to accomplish a peaceable de-
| liverance.
We are ready to enter into an agree
ment between the powers and the Chi
nese government for a cessation of
hostile demonstrations on condition
that a sufficient body of the forces
composing the relief expedition shall be
permitted to enter. Pekin unmolested
and to escort the foreign ministers and
| residents back to Tien Tsin, this move
ment being provided and secured by
such arms and dispositions of troops
as shall be considered necessary to
safety by the generals commanding the
| forces composing the relief expedition.
"ALVAH A. ADEE,
Acting Secretary.
Department of State, Washington,
Aug. II. 1900"
The text of this reply to the over
lures communicated by Minister WI
was telegraphed last night to the rep
resentatives Of the United States for
communication to the governments of
the powers cooperating in the relief
movement.
Impol lance In the Wording.
The Importance of the action taken
by this gov eminent lies to a consider
able extent N the wording of the mes
sage. China had made overtures for
peace and had thus opened the way for
a possible compromise or for further
diplomatic temporizing. The United
| tain specific preliminaries to any peace
overture. including an entirely new de-
mand, namely, that a sufficiently large
force from the allied column shall be
allowed to enter Pekin unopposed and
conduct the members of the legations
and their followers from the Chinese
capital to Tien Tsin.
While this last demand might have
been inferred from the previous repec-
tion by the United States of the pro-
posal for a Chinese escort, it is now
put forward as an exact and unalter-
able demand which China must accept
Internationally if she hopes to stav
the advance of the international force
or hopes even to have considered any
other conditions Of peace which she
may desire to put forward to the Of
Tended powers.
The reply was sent to Ii Hung Chang
through Minister WI last night, and as
there are no delays in communicating
with him similar to those in dealing
with Pekin, it may be expected that
China's peace envoy will be acquainted
today with the position of the United
States.
Chinese Promises to be Ignored.
A member of the cabinet stated today
that no consideration would be given
promises of the Chinese government
until the demands that have been
made by this government are actually
and fully complied with.
We made our demands on the Chi
neSe government in very definite Ian
guage," said this official, and liz view
of that persistent failure to meet them,
although certainly fully understanding
them, mere promises will not now be
considered. Nothing, as / see it, will
stop the march of the relief to Pekin,
except the actual delivery of our peo-
pie now there. Unless they are put
into our hands Immediately, the allied
forces will continue on into the Chinese
capital without any unnecessary delay.
This peace edict, however, looks as
if the Chinese were about ready to
yield. They probably will be disposed
to take any steps necessary to save
their sacred city from foreign intru-
SION
The war department was in receipt
of a dispatch from General CT lffee,
which was said to have been 'adly
mangled in transmission. but 50 far
as it had been deciphered. it seemed to
contain nothing of startling import
ance
Powers Lend Their Support.
1t developed during the day that the
reference TO the powers employed
in the American reply, was not without
distinct meaning. Exchanges be-
tween the various powers have been
going on constantly, and as a result
the officials had the satisfaction of
knowing late in the day that the posi-
ton of the United States had the ap-
prevail and support of all the great
powers. While this had not been. ex-
pressed in any formal manner by all
the parties, yet the exchanges in the
chancellories of Europe, and through
the foreign representatives in Wash
ington, had made it positive that the
powers were acting unitedlY in ap-
prevail of the course of this govern
ment.