The Irish standard., 1900-09-15
NOT READY TO TREAT.
United states Desires to Wait before
Negotiating with Ii Hung
Chung for Peace.


Negotiating with Ii Hung
Chang for Peace.
|
Washington, Sept. 12.-Minister WI
has received cable dispatch from
Earl Ii Hung Chang, giving an i'm
perial edict, signed by the emperor,
directing him to proceed Immediately
to Peking and there to cooperate with
Prince Ching toward peace negotia-
tions, and settlement of all war diff
] ficulties. The edict is dated August
~. Accordingly Lii Hung Chang asks
that the powers cooperate in affording
him personal protection and facilitate
ing his journey. He probably will
leave Shanghai at once, going by sea.
Sir Robert Hart, imperial minister of
customs, has been asked to procure
steamer accommodations for the trip,
Minister WI probably will ask that a
United States gunboat be designated
for Earl Lis use.
Washington, Sept. 12.-The acting
secretary of state has replied to the
edict transmitted Monday by Minister
WI, giving Ii Hung Chang extraor-
binary powers to negotiate for peace,
as follows:
"rhe United States does not feel called
| upon to express any opinion at this time
us to the suiiiciency Of Ii Hung Chang's
authority. but hopes it will transpire that
his credentials are full and authoritative
not only for negotiation, but to enable MIN
without delay to give assurance that the
life and property of Americans will hence
iorth be respected throughout the Chinese
| empire"
Washington, Sept. 12.--From the
formal statement given out Tuesday
1T appears that the state department
is no, yet ready to begin direct ncgo-
'in1ions with Ii Hung Chang. 1t does
not question his credentials as Il plcn-
potentiary, but simply leaves the mat
ter in ahcyance. Probably this is
because all of the powers have not
yet returned their responses to the
Russian note, and it is desired to avoid
making the United States the first
among the powers to abandon the
hope of harmonious action and strike
for itself toward the settlement di-
rcctly with China. Also it NAV be
deemed we'll TO wait to hear from
Mr.. Conger, who several days ago was
invited to express his opinion about
quitting Prkng. Minister WI was
twice at the state department Tues
day. 1t was understood that his first
call was in part, at least, to secure
transportation for Ii Hung Chang
from Shanghai to Taku on United
States vessel. His later call was to
receive the answer of the department
a.
communication respecting III Hung
Chang's functions. The answer re-
turned by the state department ia the
Inter communication apparently
made it, unnecessary ut this time to
pursue the inquiry as to the ship. If
Earl Ii may not enter into nego-
tiations at present there is 10 occa-
sion TO transport him to Taku
Washington, Sept. 12.-Thr war de-
tc,cgram:
"I'owlcr. Chcfoo: Send following cable
gram to Coolidge. commanding united
| forces Ticntsin: Reported here extensive
| looting III Tientsin. Repnrt Immediately
whether American troops took part. If 50.
punish severely: rcprcss sterny. Absolute
regard for life and property of noncom-
| batants cnioined.
"l'y ORDER of secretary of war.
"CORBIN."
The following reply was rcccivcd:
'"ricntsin, July 25.-Loottng by American
| troops in walled city of Ticntsin unfound-
| cd and denied. Silver taken from burned
7 mint under direction of Col. Meade, ma
rine corps. commanding, who was in
| Valided to-day. No property destroyed ex-
/ ccpt under military eXiGency. American
troops have orders TO protect life and prop-
erty In American southeast quarter of city.
assigned them. VIII forward reports of
commanders OF American guards in city,"
COOLIDGE"
Supplementary to the above, Col.
Coolidge also transmitted the reports
of Maj. Waller, of the marine corps;
Maj. j. M. Lee, commanding the First
battalion of the Ninth infantry, and
Maj. Morris c. Foote, commanding
company NJ, of the Ninth, which lat
ter were the first American troops to
enter the city, and also an additional
report signed by himself, all of which
bear witness that United States
troops had no hand in the looting of
Ticntsin. Indeed. ~. the reports in
dicate that the Chinese themselves
were foremost in the looting, and
that piilaged property covered the
streets before the allied forces en-
tered the city. The report of Maj.
Foote, while excluding the Americans
from any share in the plundering,
tcstifies that looting was indulged in
by the troops of the other nations.
The horrible condition of Ticntsin
when the city was occupied was re-
ferred to in Maj. Lees report. The
stencil from unburied corpscs and
refuse is said to have been terrible,
although everything possible was
done by the American forces, at least,
by bringing order and cleanliness out
of the chaos and filth that rcigned in
the streets of Tientsin.
|
| Attempt to AsxnsxInnte Rhcn.
Bowling Green, KY, Sept. 12.--lt is
stated an effort was made near Morgan
town o a assassinate Congressman Rhea.
the democratic candidate for reelec-
tion. Rhea spoke there and was very
| I, nru;ocf nnr1nr fol