The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-09-01
HAVEN

sent from London, and merely proms- ing consideration for the note.
 The German response was through MT Jackson, and was equally inconclu- sive, indicating a wish on the part of the German government for time to consider the propositions. The officials
 here say that they are satisfied that Japan at least i.s fully In accord with our objects as set out in the note and rather expect an early answer from that government. France has not been heard from on this point, her last com munication relating entirely to the matter of Lii Hung Chang's status. | The full text of the French goveml-
 ment's ansWeIy to Ii Hung Chang
 peace proposition of August l9 and 2l
 has just been received here. It proves
 to be almost identical in language with
 the reply of the American government, which laid down as a preliminary to l peace overtures that security in the | Chinese capital and responsible govern- l ment be re-established.
 | It has developed, in the course of 1 careful consideration which officials | here have given to Ii Hung Chang's credentials, that they were issued by 1 the empress dowager, and not by the emperor. This may have an important bearing on the subject, as it opens up the authority of the empress dowager since the coup d'etat of September 1898, when she took the reins of power from the hands of the emperor. It ir- wolves also the issues between the en- press dowager who is anti-foreign, and the emperor, who Is pro-foreign. Still a further consideration Is the Russian Hympathies entertained by the empress dowager IS against the British sympa- thies held by the emperor. Thus far, however, there has been no questioning of the credentials on any of the per sonal grounds mentioned, although they are forcible in shaping the action of the several powers.
 Although the exact whereabouts of Ii Hung Chang continue to be in doubt, it is the understanding of diplomatic officials that he is now in continuous communication with the imperial house. hold and thus is enabled to convey to them the prospect of return to the Chinese capital
 The expected return of Prince Ching to Pekin Is said to be a result of this
  imperial family, and to be the initial move of responsible authorities toward the capital. There is reason to believe, also, that Earl Ii is now in frequent tel egraphic correspondence with European capitals. although Washington has not received a word from him since August 21, the date of the last appeal for peace. Some significance is attached to this, xi.a r eziy from Washington an acceptance of his overtures, turned to Europe, and more particularly to Russia.
 It was stated to-day, as an additional reason for American acceptance of Il Hung Chang, that his confidential sec retary and adviser is an American, Mir. Pethick, formerly of the American con- sular service at Tien Tsin.
 The disposition to look for ulterior motives in Russia's plan is met by the statement, in authoritative quarters, that such suspicious show a lack of fla miliarity with Russia's traditional friendship with China. It is pointed out that the two countries have lived as neighbors since 16A4, and that their rela lions have not been as traders, each pushing commercial enterprises into the territory of the other but as border | friends. It is said this brought about the agreement over the trans Siberian railroad, which, while beneficial to Rus sia, also helped China to develop the | resiurces of Manchuria.
 In seeking concessions also, it is said l that Russia never has permitted her | citizens to acquire rich railroad and | mineral concessions and then to sell | them in speculative markets. This un- | selfish and neighborly sentiment. it is | maintained, is the chief motive for Rus" sia's present course.