The evening times., 1900-10-18

The French memorandum presented to
the Secretary of State yesterday by NJ.
Thiebaut. the Charge d Affairs Of France,
in which the French Government re-
quests that the United States Min ster at
Pekin be instructed to enter Immediately
into negotiations for peace with Il Hung
Chang and Prince Ching, is regarded by
the Administration officials paving the
way for a satisfactory adjustment of the
troubles in China
In his answer the Secretary of State
will express the qualification Of the Pres
ident over the turn affairs have taken.
and say that Minister Conger has been
instructed to enter upon peace negetia-
tions In his memorandum NJ. Thiebaut
said that all the powers had agreed in
principle with the first French note, sug-
costing that negotiations begin imae
diately. and there is strong feeling 81
/ hope in official circles here that the geG
eral peace conference is assured
| Secretary Hay today personally handed
! to WI Ting-fang, the Chinese Minister,
| letter from President Mckinley to Empe-
ror Kwang Hsu, in answer to the letter of
thanks from the Emperor. handed to the
| President yesterday by Mr.. Wu. The text
! Of the two communications will probably
not be made public until tomorrow. but
it is learned that the Presidents answer
! is brief and does not contain any new ad-
vice TO Kwang Hsu as TO the means TO be
| pursued to re-establish normal conditions
in China.
| Mr. Hay and Mr.. WI had a coEyersa-
/ tion lasting hour Neither would tell
anything about the topics discussed
He talked very pleasantly to me, and
naturally I talked very pleasantly to
him. said Mr. WI.
No news from his Government was
brought by the Minister.
telegram from Minister Conger, the
| first for some time was received by Sec
retary Hay, this morning. Mr.. Hay took
| it TO the President Information as to the
contents of the message was refused and
some concern was manifested by officials
over the fact that it was known outside
the State Department and the White House
that such message had come. The de-
spatch is regarded as important. It is
!
culpability of Chinese officials in the Box
er outrages.
| Secretary Hay was in conference with
| the President this morning in regard to
| the peace negotiations. 1t is believed 10
/ be the aim of the Administration TO reach
any sort of a settlement that viii permit
Of withdrawing the soldiers now in China
! to Luzon. TO resume the war against the
Filipnos.
1t is believed that at the meeting this
morning one of the questions coming up
for consideration related to the manage
| Inent OF the Peace Conference on the part
of the United States. It has been decided
to have Minister Conger conduct the ne
gotiaticns, but it has been a question as
| to what shall be done with Commissioner
Rcckhil1. At the time Mr.. Rockhill vas
sent to the Orient as the particular envoy
| of the Administration, it was announced
| that Mr.. conger would doubtless prove tc
| have heen so harassed and perturbed By
the siege as to be unable to 5.dge affairs
calmly For that leason Mr.. Rockhi1 was
to play the chief diplomatic part in any
future negotiations in China. But since
the special envoy committed himself pub
iicIy 70 the unweIcome declaration that
the Boxer outrages were inspired by The
throne. be has been decidedly persona nor
grata with the President No doubt i:
felt in diplomatic circles that he will he
thrust entirely aside in the negotiation:
at Pekin, and that the dealings will be
conducted for the United States entirely
by Mr.. Conger.
The discussion his morning betws e.
the President and Mr.. Hay related ir
part to the claims that will be made by
this Government against China IN view
OF the avowed purpose of the Adminstra-
ton to withdraw from Pekin as soon as
| possible, it is deemed certain that the
President will not consider any plan call
ing for the payment of indemnity, if thai
plan enlbodies any feature, that viii pre-
| vent the return of American troops TO tn
Philippines. It is believed that the Presi
dent relies upon Russia to furnish China
with loan sufficient to meet the imme
date claims of the United States agains
China, and this Government will refuse Il
| enter into any scheme calling for occu
pancy of the Empire pending payment G
all the claims.
THE REPLIES TO FRANCE.