The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-08-23
REPLY TO II HUNG CHANG
FORW4RDED TO CHINESE PREM IEB LITTER CABINET MEETING.
tobe n Rejection of His Proposal No Chinese Government Recognized by the United States at Present.

Chinese Government Recognized by
 the United States at Present.
 Washington, Aug. 22.-After a long conference at the white house to-day
 the reply of the United States to the application of Lii Hung Chang for the appointment of peace commissioners was completed and a copy of the reply sent to the Chinese minister, MT. Wu to be forwarded to Earl Ii. The state department made definite announce ment that the reply had been conveyed to MT. Wu, but added to it's official ut terance that the correspondence would not be made public until tomorrow morning. A copy of the reply was sent to other governments represented in China.
 The American reply is chiefly char acteriZed by it's firm tone and it's breV- ity. It's keynote is the presidents atti- tude as laid down in the American note of July and there is the strictest ad herence to the points enunciated at that time. While the document is open to the construction of being a reitera ton of Lii Hung Chang's proposition for im- mediate negotiation, yet it is stated by those who have read the answer with care and have had a part in its prepa- ration, that rejection is probably too strong term to apply to it.
 The United States places itself in the position of being ready at the proper time to take up peace negotiations but in the present unsettled condition of af- fairs in the empire the lack of knewl- edge as to who are the responsible rul- CTS and what constitutes the actual Chinese government it is made clear that the time has not arrived for pur- suing the negotiation proposed. The formal courtesy Of diplomatic procedure is preserved but at the same time the entire tenor of the document is one of force and f1rmness.
 The government of the United States takes the position that negotiations are impossible with a government which cannot prevent hostilities against the forces of the powers, which were sent to the Chinese capital to save their en- voys. As long as attacks are made on the troops of this and other govern ments such as have followed the occu- patton of Pelxin and the attacks in the vicinity of Tien Tsin it is deemed that the Chinese government is either un- willing or unable to prevent these hos tilities and for this reason negotiations must be deferred It is stated, how ever, that the reply is a step in the direction of opening negotiations No jc tp ,o ,.;t t,y of M Hung Chang to represent his government, but 1t is said that his cre- dentials, like those of all others who come together for the purpose of nego- tiating terms of peace will be exam ined by the respective representatives and the validity of the papers of each representative determined by that body The United States, however, in com municating with Minister Wu recog- nizes him as the official representative of the Chinese government.
 Minister Wu received the reply early this afternoon and work was immedi- ately begun on its translation, first on the American text to the Chinese and then from Chinese into the cipher. This took some time and 1t was not until late in the day that the reply was ac- tually dispatched.
 The most important development of the day as to the actual conditions in Pekin came late in the afternoon when the state department made public from Minister Conger dated at Pekin only three days ago, It was given out with the following statement:
 The state department authorizes the ,ov,t r,f4 4l,o hour this Wednesday, morning. through the counsel at Che Foo, of a telegram from MT. Conger in the de- partment cipher to the following effect:
 "Pekin, Aug 19. Secretary of State, Washington: The entire city. with the exception of the imperial palace, is occupied by Japanese, Russians, British, Americans and French. It is being apportioned nto districts for police supervision The | Chinese army fled. The imperial family md the court have gone westward, | probably to SiAn-Fu, in the province | If Shen Si. No representatives of the | Chinese government are in sight in Pe- kin, and the conditions are chaotic. The palace is expected to be taken immedi-
 
 or home, while others remain in charge # the Christian refugees, numbering lbout one thousand.
 (Signed) ''Conger." MT. Conger's message was particular y welcome to the officials in showing LOW completely the entire city is dom- mated by the allies. He states that it ! 5 occupied throughout and that it is ,eing districted for police supervision This last measure shows the thorough ess with which the allies are applying ivil methods 10 the Chinese capital. dr Conger's statement that "the con- itions are chaotic" was taken as an- ther strong justification for the firm eply given to China to-day. He en- hasizes the fact that the Chinese army as fled, the imperial family and court ave gone and no representative of the 'hinese government Is to be seen in Pc in.
 Minister Conger makes no mention of is desire to come home, and 1t is stat d officially that this government has lade no suggestion that he return to his country
 The military situation was of quite as 1uch interest in to-day's developments S was the diplomatic. Admiral Remey sported early in the morning, bringing ne story of the Pekin operations up to 1e 18th in Pekin and confirming the ress report, already printed, of the cath of the gallant Captain Reilly in ne final assault on the outer walls of |