The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-29

miral at Taku reports the arrival at
Pekin August % of a German convoy
with provisions
The railway from Tien Tsin to Yang
Tsun is working but from the latter
place to Pelxin the road is in bad shape.
APPLAUD CHAFFEE-
London, Aug. 29.-The afternoon pa
pers doubt that the rumors of peace
negotiations are well founded and ap-
plaud General Chaffee's prudence in pre-
pairing for a winter campaign, as they
regard the activity of the allies at Pekin
and the difficulty Of discovering a re-
sponsibIe Chinaman with whom to treat
unless Lii Hung Chang is able to place
himself in communication with the fugi-
tive court and secure credentials salts
factory to all the powers as indications
that the solution of the problem will be
more prolonged and more difficult than
previously hoped.
UP THE YANG TsE KIANG.
Paris, Aug. 59.-Admiral Correjolos ca
bles that he is sending a gunboat from
Shanhai to ascend the Yang Use Kiang.
BUSY WITH CHINESE PROBLEM.
Washington, Aug. 29.-The calling of
special cabinet meeting for this morn
ing to consider the latest developments
in the Chinese situation following a mid
night conference last night and several
similar conferences with Secretary Root
and Mr.. Adee within the last two days.
elnpha sizes the amount of attention the
president is devoting to this trouble
some topic
1t is understood that the government
is better advised than it was yesterday
as to certain important clements of the
Pelxin muddle.
Baron Speck Won Sternburg, the Ger
man charge, saw Acting Secretary Adee
this morning and it is understood his
purpose was to talk over the question of
Ii Hung Chang's credentials. One ef-
feet of Germany'S refusal to accept Lii
as plenipotentiary will be to delay peace
negotiations at least until Field Mar
Nal6PT<Re'S China
eral weeks hence.
This fact is not contemplated with
equanimity by our government, the pres
ident being deSirOuS of terminating the
present unsatisfactory state of affairs in
China as soon as this can be done with
honor and security, and providing the
objects laid down in his various notes
can be attained, he will consider that the
United States has performed its duty
from a military point of view. There
fore if our government can find some re-
sponsible person with whom to conclude
an agreement and such an agreement
can be arranged on a basis that will full
ly conserve the rights of the United
States without infringing upon those of
the other powers, a speedy withdrawal
of the United States troops from China
may be expected and it is entirely pos
sible that Field Marshal Count Walder-
see will not after all, exercise command
over any American troops in China
Beyond short message relative to the
situation at Annoy which is still regard
ed as threatening, the state department
had nothing to make public this morn
ing. The diplomatic rather than the
military situation, it still regarded as Of
supreme Importance. Again Mr.. WI the
Chinese minister was an early caller at
the state department He was much
disturbed in mind over the reiterated
report that the foreign admirals are go
ing to restrain Earl LIS liberty of COM
municating with his own governme ment
The minister was indignant at the report
-t<,T he
ance he had from Acting Secretary Adee
that the report was probably an old one
referring to the conditions that existed
at Talxu before the beginning of the
march on Pekin. The minister was very
strongly of the opinion that any renewed
attempt to interfere with Lii Hung
Chang either in his movements or in his
communications with the imperial gov
ernment would prove most disastrous
in its effect upon the earnest efforts now
being made by the viceroys as we'll as by
the imperial government itself, he said,
to terminate the present hostilities in
China.
Tt is stated at the war department
that preparations are being made for
wintering 5000 United States troops in
China The report that Gen. Chaffee
was arranging to winter 5000 troops
probably originated before the general
was Informed that the troops on the way
to China had been diverted at Nagasaki
to Manila. These arrangements are made
in order to guard against a failure OF
peace negotiations
TWO CABINET SESSIONS.
Washington, Aug. ga special meet
ing of the cabinet was held at the White
House this morning at 10 o'clock At
1:2O p. m, after having been in session
over three hours, the members separated
to meet again at 2:30. The meeting was
attended by all the cabinet members in
the city, Secretary Gage, Secretary Root,
Postmaster General Smith, Secretary
Hitchcock and Secretary Wilson In ad-
dition, Acting Secretary of State Adee
was present 1t is very unusual for an
assistant secretary to attend cabinet
(Continued on Sixth Page.)