The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-23
STATE OBJ CHAOS.
C0nger Says Disorder
ReignS in Pekin.
Imperial Family Has
Fled to ST An.
The Palace is Expected 10 Be Taken
Immediately.
Cabinet Replies to Ii
Hung's Appeal.
1t is Virtually a Rejection of
His Proposition.

Washington, August 22.-After long
conference at the White House today, the
reply Of the United States to the applica-
tion OF Ii Hung Chang, for the appoint
ment Of peace commissioners was conplet-
ed and q copy of the reply sent to the
Chinese minister Air. Wus TO be forward
ed to Earl III. The State Department
made definite announcement that the re-
ply had been conveyed TO Mr.. WI. but
added to its official utteranca that the
correspondence would not be made public
until tomorrow morning. A copy OF the
reply was sent to other governments rep
resented in China.
The American reply Is chiefly oharao-
rerized by its fir1n tone and its breyity.
Its keynote is the Presidents attitude as
laid down in the American note of July
and there is the strictest adherence 20
the points enunciated at that time.
While the document Is open to the con-
struction Of being a rejection of Ii Hung
Chang proposition Tor immediate nego-
tiations,y yet It is stated by those who have
read the answer with care and have had
part IN It's preparation, that rejection is
i probably too strong a term to apply TO 1t.
The United States places Itself in the po-
sition Of being ready at the proper time
to take up peace negotiations but IN the
present unsettled condition of affairs IN
the empire, the lack Of knowledge as to
who are the responsible rulers and what
/ constitutes the actual Chinese govern
ment, it Is made clear that the time has
not arrived for pursuing the negotiation
proposed. The formal courtesy of dip
lomattc procedure IS preserved but as the
same time the entire ten0r of the doc u
ment is one Of force and hrmness. The
government of the United States takes
the position that negotiations are tmpos-
sible with a government which cannot
prevent hostilities against the forces Of
the powers, which were sent to the Chi
nese capital to save their ENJOYS
AS long as attacks are made on the
troops of this and other governments
such as have followed the occupation of
Pelxin and the attacks in the vicinity of
Tien Tsin, It is deemed that the Chinese
government is either unwilling or unable
to prevent these hoshiIities and for this
reason negotiations must be deferred. 1t
step in the direction of opening negotia-
tions No question is raised as to the au-
thority Of Ii Hung Chang to represent his
government it is said that his oreden-
tials, like those of all others who come
together for the purpose of negotiating
terms of peace, will be- examined by the
respective representatives and the validi-
ty of the powers of each representative
determined by that body. The United
States, however, in communicating with
nj mister Wa recognizes him as the otfic-
laI representative of the Chinese govern
ment.
Minister WI received the reply early
this afternoon and work was Immediately
begun on It's translation, first on the
American text to the Chinese and then
from Chinese into the cipher. This took
some time and it was not until late in the
day that the reply was actually dis
patched. The most important develop
ment of the day came slate in the after
noon when the State Department made
public despatch from Minister Conger,
dated at Pelxin only three days ago. 1t
was given out with the follow ing state
ments
The State Department authorizes the
announcement of the receipt at an early
hour this afternoon through the consul
at Che Foo of telegram from Mr.. Con-
ger in the department cipher to the fol-
lowing effect:
Secretary of Sta6e, Washing ton;
ssThe entire city with the exception OF
the imperial palace is occupied by Japan
ese, Russian, British, Americans and
French. 1t is being apportioned into dis
tricts for police supervision. The Chinese a esa
army fled. The imperi al family and the
courtEhave gone westward, probably TO 81
An Fu In the province OF Shen; no repre-
sentatives OF the Chinese government are
in sight in Pekin and the conditions are
chaotic. The palace is expected to pc
taken Immediately Many missionaries
have started for home, while others re-
main in charge OF the Christian refugees
numbering about 1,OO0.
(S1gned) Congef'
Mr.. Conger's message was p artlcularly
E