The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-09

ment through Mr.. WI. according to the
best information obtainable, informs that
government that the removal of the restric-
'ions upon communication with our min
lister. evidenced both by the receipt of Nj.
Congers. message and the transmission cf
the edict of the 5th, is very gratifying.
out Is not an entire compliance with the
original demands OF the President i'm his
reply to the appeal for mediation. The
president in his original communication
10 the Emperor OF China laid down three
conditions precedent to any action looking
10 negotiations for the settlement of the
difhculties between China and the powers.
These conditions. in the Presidents own
words. were as follows:
most solemnly urge upon your Maj
esty government to give public assur-
Snce whether the foreign ministers are
aiive and II so in what condition.
TO put the diplomatic representatives
OF the powers in immediate and free COM
nunication with their respective gov
crnments and TO remove all dangers to their
lives and liberty.
Io place the imperial authorities of
CHINA In communication with the relief ex-
petition, so that cooperation may be Sc
cured between them for the liberation of
the legations and the protection of for
eigners by the restoration of order"
CHINA MUST REPLY DIRECTLY.
These three demands practically were
reiterated in the dispatch which Secretary
Hay sent to Consul General Good
now at Shanghai, Aug. 1, for sub
mission to Ii Hung Chang. The au-
thorities consider that the opening of
communication with Minister Conger,
therefore, only partially complies with the
Presidents demands. With the Iegationers
still under fire, the Chinese government
cannot be said to have removed "all dam
gers to their lives and liberty and, more
over. so far as known here, the imperial
authorities of China have made no efforts
to communicate and cooperate with the
relief expedition. The new demand upon
the Chinese government is for square-toed
compliance with these conditions There is
hope, growing out of the fact that the Chi
nese government has yielded partially,
that when confronted with the firm position
taken by the United States it will be sufi-
GENTLY impressed to make complete ac-
quiescence. This governments determina-
government that the United States is not
to be trified with and will bring the shift
ing, evasive authorities in Peking to a full
realization of the situation and the conse-
quences of refusal.
Minister WI early in the day brought to
the State Department the imperial edict
removing the restrictions from free COM
munication with the ministers. He was
plainly perturbed over Minister Conger's
report that the legationers were under fire,
but still contended that his government
was acting in good faith. and protested
against a misinterpretation of the situa-
ton. He pointed out the fact that the alb
sence of artillery fire might indicate that
there were regular troops engaged in
the assault and that the rifle fire spoken
of by Mr.. Conger simply might be the
sniping of disgruntled irregulars who were
engaged in guerrilla tactics.
The communication addressed to Minister
WI TO be by him sent to the Chinese gov
ernment. framed as a result of the confer
ence between the President, acting Secre-
tary of State Adee and Secretary Root, was
handed to Minister Wu at late hour to-
day. 1t was given to him in person during
a call he made at Mr.. Adee's Office. Mr..
Adee tonight declined positively to make
any statement as to the nature of the
communication, but promised that ii would
be made public at IL o'clock tomorrow
morning This fact Mr.. Adee announced
after he had spent an hour and a half at
the White House in further telegraphic or
telephone conference with the President at
Canton. Mr.. Wu refused to say whether
he had received the communication handed
to him by the acting secretary of state and
in reply to a note he wrote: 81 have no
statement to make"
NOT IN THE FIRST FIGHT.