The age-herald., 1900-07-23
The Communication Was Made . Through Minister Wu.
SIMILAR TO MESSAGE TO FRANCE
Chinese Government Seems to Deplore the Trouble Caused by the Upris- ing of the Boxers-Flower of
 Chinese Army Defeated

Washington, July 2.-PreSldent Mchln- ley has received what purports to be direct appeal from the Chinese Imperial government to use his good offices to ex- tricate that government from the difficult and dangerous position in which it has been placed as result of the Boxer up- rising and the ensuing hostile attitude of the great powers
 Although the exact text of the appeal made by the Emperor of China to France, as outlined in the cable dispatches of yes- terday, has not been made known here, it Is believed that the address to the Pres ident is similar in terms to that communi- cation. In our case the communication was made through Minister Wu to the State Department. An answer has not been returned. The United States govern ment finds itself alone in it's view of the China matter but nevertheless has be- hind 1t the consoling assurance that all the European governments have tacity admit ted that an error was made in not follow ing the common sense advice of the United States naval commander at Taku. The European governments are proceeding up- ; on the belief that all of the foreign Min isters and missionaries and guards at Pe- oNNiA ing with the Chinese government upon that basis, thereby assuming a hostile attitude that tends to destroy the last chance of availing of whatever friendly sentiment may yet exist among the powerful Chinese Viceroys and the imperial government it. self. Thus the French reply, as indicated in the four conditions laid down by M Delcasse yesterday sets an imposing task for the imperial government in it's present straits and tends to drive it at once to make terms with the Boxers and Prince Tuans party.
 . Willing to Accept It Temporarily
 On the other hand, our Government, while not guaranteeing the truth of. the advices from the Chinese Government as to the safety of the foreign Ministers, is willing to accept the statements temporarily, in the meantime unremitting in none of it's efforts to get access to MT. Conger through the use of military force, if need be. By following out this policy, the State Depart ment aruges that it retains two chances instead of one. It may reach MT Conger with troops and it also may secure his de- liverance through the friendly offices of some of the powerful Chinese officials However, the United States Government does not intend to relinqush it's claim for compensation and reparation in the ulti- mate settlement.
 peculiarly deplorable effect of the req soning of the European Governments on this point, in the estimation of our Gov ernment, is the abandonment of the idea that there is particular need for haste and taking desperate chances in the effort to get the international relief column to Pe- kin. It is true that the latest advices from Taku indicate that where it was originally estimated by foreign commanders that the expedition could not be started before Au- gust 15 it is now regarded by them as pos- sble to make a beginning about the first of August But the military experts here who have been closely scanning all the reports from Tien Tsin feel that the way is open to Pekin and that the march should begin with the force at present on the Pei ho, leaving .--e powers to bring up re- Inducements to reopen the base, should the first expedition be cut off. According to the latest official reports, the country around Tien Tsin is clear of hostile Chin csc.
 Chinese Army Defeated
 iho iioWeT OI the CnlneSe army in that section has been defeated at Tien Tsin. and these army experts calculate that its power is so broken that that particular army can never be reorganized in season to offer formidable resistance. So they ar gue that the time is ripe for stroke of bold generalship; such, for instance, as French's ride to Kimberley.
 Further proof of an official character of the mistake made by foreign commanders In the attack upon the Taku forts is con- tained in communication just received by the State Department from United States Consul Fowler at Che Foo He has transmitted an imperial edict which was supplied to him by telegraph by the Chi nese governor of Shan Tung, Yuan Shin Kai Tsi Man, the capital of the province, having been issued on July 17. The edict appears to state that owing to the trouble existing between the Christians and the populace, and to the subsequent seizure of the Takus forts, which aroused the mll- tary to arms the imperial court was lay ing great weight upon its international re- lations. The Manchu generals, therefore. viceroys and governors, are ordered to certain whether the merchants and mis- sionaries of the various nations residing in the open ports are being protected, and
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