The sun., 1900-07-28
REFUSE TO HALT
EVEN |F CHINA
DELIVERS MINISTERS
United States Answer to Con-
ditiOnal Offer Regarding
the Enjoys.
WE WONT STOP CAMPAIGN
A Special Cabinet Meeting Held In
Washington at Which the Pur.
pose of the Administration
is Disclosed---Defeat
for Ching.
WE WONT STOP CAMPAIGN

Washington, July 27.-Secretary Hay
sgnalized his return to Washington from
Canton by the announcement that under
no circumstances would the United
Suites government accept the Chinese
olfcr to turn over the foreign ministers
10 the ntcrnationals at Tien-tsin iii CON
,idcration of a suspension of the cam
| piign against Iekng. a long cable
| gram was dispatched to Rear Admiral
| lt,mcy at Taku, aud il is believed that
/ ii Is instruction was laid upon him.
Tile state department claims to be
/ pursuing an entirely consistent course i'll
1 Till, decision. The officials point out that
u Of the bitter criticism in the European
papers directed against the United States
i policy is based upon IL total miSunder-
standing Of the Fundamental principles
I which have governed the actions of the
department.
At 10 time, it is said. has the state
department allowed the belief that the
foreign ministers ut Peking were alive
to interfere in the slightest degree with
the prosecution of its military plans for
reaching Pcking. On the contrary, the
news that the ministers were alive was
accepted by the state department, not
Il as conveying absolute verify, but as an
1 additional reason for Fastening the relief
/ column forward to Peking.
II II was the departments contention that,
4 even though II degree of improbability
surrounded the Chinese news as to the
1 state of affairs in Peking, yet every con-
sidcration of humanity and policy de-
mundcd that it should be given careful
reconsideration and that it should be acted
Eulon us IL true, provided that action
Event toward the relief of the foreign
Umnisters and did not operate to prevent
the consummation Of any of the objects
laid down in Secretary Hays identical
Mnote. The department is absolutely sat
Hsied that its attitude was perfectly cor
Hect and that even European critics will
Xm time admit that fact.
How Deciaion Was Reached.
Secretary Hays decision to decline the
Hast Chinese proposition was based upon
Ills determination to adhere strictly to
iAe conditions laid down in the reply to
Hlhr Chinese empcrors appeal. The state
utrpartment required that the ministers
H. peking be put in communication with
Ethoir governments. and the most signiti-
cnt condition OF all, that the Chinese
uthoritics cooperate with the relief ex-
cliton for the liberation of the Legal
ions. Until these two things are done
he state department absolutely refuses
be- led into any arrangement looking
the mitigation of the punishment of
he Chinese government. such as the
abandonment of the expedition to Peking.
u II is not known mt present just how
His last proposition reached the state de-
Urtment 1t is inferred that 1t came
rom several sources. but all are believed
lie traceable to Ii Hung Chang. Mr..
ioOdnow, our consul at Shanghai. is the
carest United States official to Ii and
as acquitted himself so well up to this
Hont that the state department does not
Hesitate to make free use of him as a
Diplomatic agent. Therefore it may be
Interesting for the foreign contingent al
Shanghai. who have complained against
PR. Goodnow's intercourse with Ii Hung
Eang, to know that the consul general
acting in strict accordance with the
UaStructions of the state department.
Secretary Hay has cabled him to pu1
himself in communication with Earl 1.
End to avail as far as possible. of thai
hinese officials influence III securing the
ects plainly stated in the identica
ote. 1t does not follow that the Unitc(
iates is bound to accept without ques
on any statement made by lii MIR
ioGdn0w is a shrewd man, and the de
Grtment of state feels itself able. usinf
III as an intermediary, to give proper
eight to anything coming from thu
eat vicoroy.
A Special Cabinet Meeting.
special cabinet meeting was held il
rotary Hays Office ut the usual hour
he secretary of state, fresh from hi
rS0nal intercourse with the president
as in position to advise his colleague
the administration purpose, and th
hole Chinese situation was discussed
tSiles Secretary Hay there were presen
cictary Gage, Postmaster Genera
NTH and Secretary Root.
when the cabinet conference adjourn
il was stated that no further definit
ans concerning the action of this gov
hment had been prepared. The meet
was a general interchange of opin
AS and views. Secretary Hay laid be
re the members the latest information
has received, including dispatcl
ON Consul General Goodnow, at Shang
4. The government has received infor
alton. presumably from Admiral Re
y, that the number Of allied troops il
en-tsin is 2S,000.
he movement of the troops from Tien
TO Peking, Secretary Root said
nld depend upon the arrival and mol
Natlon of troops of other nations nov
The way to Taku. He said it wOul
impossible for the United States force
small as it is, to go alone. He furthe
led that all the United States troop
could possibly be spared had bee
aered to China.