The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1900-08-31
ARMY REMAINS INCHINA
Preparation is Being Made for q Sta. All
Next Winter.
EARL LIS APPEAL is REJECTED.
Pekin Given as Reason-Conger Re-
ports Chaotic Conditions Chinese
Capital Is Practically In Hands of Allies.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23.-After a
long conference at the White House
the reply of the United States to the
application of LII Hung Chang for the
appointment of peace commissioners
was completed and a copy Of the reply
sent to the Chinese Minister, MI. WI
to be forwarded to Earl Ii. The state
department made a definite announce
ment that, the reply had been conveyed
TO Mr.. WI, but added to its official ut
terances that the correspondence
would not be made public until tomor-
row morning. A copy of the reply was
sent TO other governments represented
in China.
The American reply is chiefly char
acterized by it's firm tone and its brew
ity. Its keynote is the presidents at
titude as laid down in the American
note of July 3, 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 re-
lection of Lii Hung Changes PROPOSE
ton for immediate negotiations, yet it
is stated by those who have read the
answer with care and have had a part
in its preparation that rejection" is
probably too strong a term to apply to
1T. The United States places itself in
the position Of being ready at the
proper time to take up peace negotia-
tons, but in the present unsettled con-
dition of affairs in the empire, b lack
Of knowledge as to who are the re-
sponsible rulers and what constitutes
the actual Chinese government, it is
made clear hat the time has no ar
rived for pursuing the negotiations
proposed. The formal courtesy OF di-
plomatic procedure is preserved, but
at the same time the entire tenor OF
the document is marked by force and
f1rmnesS. The government OF the
United States takes the position that
negotiations are impossible with q gov
eminent which cannot prevent hostilN
tiles against the forces of the powers
which were sent to the Chinese capital
to save the ENJOYS. AS long as at
tackS are made on the troops of this
and other governments, such as have
followed the occupation of Pekin, and
the attacks in the vicinity of Tien Tsin
it is deemed that the Chinese govern
ment is either unwilling or unable to
prevent these hostilities, and for this
reason negotiations must be deferred.
The most important development of
the day as to the actual conditions in
Pekin came late in the afternoon,
when the state department made pub
lie a dispatch from Minister Conger,
dated at Pekin only three days ago. 1t
was given out with the following state
ment:
1.-The state department authorizes
the announcement of the receipt at an
early hour this wednesday, morning
through the consul at Che Foo of a
telegram from Minister Conger in the
department cipher to the following eff
feet:
"PEKIN, Aug. 19.-Secretary OF
State, Washington: The entire city
with the exception Of the imperial pal
ace is occupied by japanese, Russian,
British, Americans and French. 1t is
being apportioned into districts for po-
lice supervision. The Chinese army
fed. The imperial family and the court
have gone westward, probably to Sian
Flu, in the province of Shensi. No rep
resentatives of the Chinese government
are in sight in Pekin and the condi-
lions are chaotic. The palace is ex-
pected to be taken Immediately. Many
missionaries have started for home.
while others remain in charge of the
Christian refugees, numbering about
1000. CONGER.'