Abilene weekly reflector., 1900-08-30

Washington, Aug. 23.-After long
conference at the white house yester-
day the reply of the United States to
the application of Ii Hung Chang for
the appointment of peace commission
ers was completed and a copy of the
reply sent to the Chinese minister, Mr..
WI, to be forwarded to Earl Lii. The
state department made a definite an
nouncement that the reply had been
conveyed to Mr.. WI, but added to its
official utterance that the correspond
ence would not be made public until
this morning. A copy of the reply
was sent to other governments rep
resented in China.
The American reply is chiefly char
acterized by its firm tone and its
brevity. Its keynote is the presidents
attitude as laid down in the American
note of July 8, and there is the strict
est adherence to the points enunciated
at that time. While the document is
open to the construction of being a
rejection of Ii Hung Chang's PROPOSE
ton for immediate negotiations, yet it
is stated by those who have read the
answer with care and have had
part in its preparation that rejection
is probably too strong a term to ap-
ply to it. The United States places it.
self in the position of being ready at
the proper time to take up peace nego-
tiations, but in the present unsettled
condition of affairs in the empire, the
lack of knowledge as to who are the
responsible rulers and what consti-
tutes the actual Chinese government,
it is made clear that the time has not
arrived for pursuing the negotiations
proposed. The formal courtesy of
diplomatic procedure is preserved, but
at the same time the entire tenor of
the document is marked by force and
firmness. The government of the
United States takes the position that
negotiations are impossible with
government which cannot prevent hos
tilities against the forces of the pow
ers, which were sent to the Chinese
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 Pc
kin and the attacks in the vicinity of
Tien Tsin, il is deemed that the Chi
nese government is either unwilling or
unable to prevent these hosti'ities,
end for this reason negotiations must
be deferred. 1t is stated, however,
that the reply is step in the direc-
ton of opening negotiations.
The most important development of
| the day as to the actual conditions in
Pekin came late in the afternoon,
when the state department received a
dispatch from Minister Conger dated
at Pekin the 10Th. II is as follows;
"The entire city, with the exception
of the imperial palace, is occupied by
Japanese, Russian, British, Ameri-
cans and French. 1t is being appor-
toned into districts for police su-
pervision. The Chinese army fled.
The imperial family and the court
have gone westward, probably to ST.
An-Fu in the province Of Shen-Si. No
representatives of the Chinese govern
ment are in sight in Pekin and the
conditions are chaotic. The palace
| is expected to be taken Immediately.
Many missionaries have started for
home, while others remain in charge
of the Christian refugees, numbering
about 1000"
The military situation was of quite
as much interest in yesterdays de-
velopments as was the diplomatic.
Admiral Remey reported early in the
morning. bringing the story Of the