Evening star., 1900-08-13
A SHARP REPLY


Travelled over large part of the world. has
met many of its. foremost people. and they
are familiar with his ability. hope his ap-
pointment will unacceptable 10 the powers,
and l know the results of the negotiations
conducted by him will be satisfactory alike
to Chinese and to foreigners. for he will
be just and honorable in all his dealings.
Belated Dispatch From COnger.
A dispatch wasdyesterday received from
General Chaffee, transmitting a message he
had received from Minister Conger. Evi-
IDENTIFY the message had been delayed long
in reaching him. and his own dispatch was
dated four days ago. The dispatch was as
follows:
"Adjutant General, Washington:
"ToITsUN. 9Th.
Message received today:
"'PEKIN. August 4.
situation more critical, but we will hold
on until your arrival. Hope 1t will be soon.
Send such Information as you can"
(signeD ".CoNGER.'
"CHAFFEE."
1t Is presumed at the War Department
that the dispatch of General Chaffee was
dated at Yang-Tsun and that an error was
made in transmission. While the massage
of Minister Conger contains nothing new. 1t
was encouraging to the officials to have re-
newed assurances of his ability and deter
mination to hold on until relief reached
him. Mr.. Conger's expression of hope that
the long-looked-for relief may soon reach
him simply adds to the determination of
the government to press forward to Pekin
as rapidly as may be possible.
Discussed In Diplomatic Circles.
The American reply to the Chinese peace
overtures is the all-engrossing topic Of dis
cussion in official and diplomatic circles
this afternoon. While its manly and can
did character is commended on all sides
there are some conservative critics who
predict that the imperial government Is
likely TO make a strong protest to the single
condition that foreign troops be allowed 70
enter Pekin for the purpose of escorting the
foreigners from the compound, rather than
receive them from a Chinese escort at one
of the main gateways to the city.
The latter course, they argue, would per-
nit the foreign forces to surround the chi
nese capital with guns trained on 1t from
all dfrec tions and easily enforce compliance
with their demands for the safe delivery OF
the lega TONERS. There would be little
chance for trickery or duplicity In such
plan. as the allies would have complete
the city and all its Inhabitants in case of
bad faith or double dealing. 1t Is under
stood that the Chinese government will
protest against the entry of the allied
forces as an unnecessary degradation and
humiliation. and will give every assurance
for the safe delivery of the foreigners at
any point agreed upon outside the city's
gates. ~ -,
There Is reason IN believe that this will be
the only possible hitch in the successful
conclusion of negotiations of terms of peace
between the hllies.and the Chinese govern
ment, and 1t is pointed out by some of the
critics that sssn no s special et in reason for
ers can be accomplished without 1t. On the
other hand, # IS stated. in explanation Of
the action Of the administration in insisting
that a sufficient body of the allied forces be
permitted to enter the city to escort the for
eigners to Tien Tstn. that it is the only safe
method to pursue In view Of the acknowl-
edged inability of the Chinese authorities to
furnish safe conduct for the ministers and
party even through the short stretch of
territory from the compound to the nearest
point outside the gates of the city