The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-28
AMERICA IN THE LEAD
IN DIPLOMATIC SETTLEMENT OF MAT
TIERS IN CHINA
REPLY TO PEACE 0VtRTURtS
By Ii Hung Chang Adopted by Other
Nations-An Encouraging Condition
of Affairs in china No More Troops
70 be Sent There From America.
Russian and British Accounts of the
Storming OF Pekin-Incendfary Fires
and street Fighting.

ana street Fighting.
Washington, August 23.-The I'm
portant development in the Chinese
situation today was the decision OF the
government not to send any more
troops to China All the troops
now at Ga, amounting 10 1000,
together with those under d for
service in the far east, which have
not sailed. amounting to about 5000
more, viii be sent 20 Manila. There
troops will sail on the same route, and
upon touching at Nagasaki. will go on
to Manila, unless there are develop
ments in China, not now expected.
which YOU make their presence in
that country necessary. Secretary
Root said today that no more o
Were being sent 10 China, because they
were not needed. With the arrival at
Taku of the Hancock and the troops
she carried, General Chaffee will have
five thousand available men, which
is deemed sufficient for all present pur-
poses. The decision of the depart
ment was not based upon any recon-
iiaN ny III Slldllttp
but upon reports received by him.
which made it apparent that no more
troops were needed.
ENCOURAGING CONDITION IN
CHINA.
1t was stated at the department hat
the encouraging condition in China
was the main reason why the order
Of today regarding the troops We're is
sued. 1t was said at the department
that six or seven thousand troops
would be affected by the order.
A dispatch was received from Cen
eral Chaffee today dated Pekin, August
18th which was not in response to the
request sent him a few days ago to
report the conditions and requirements.
General Chaffee did not report fur
Their fighting in Pekin, and for that
reason the Washington officials feel
assured that hostile demonstrations
in the Chinese capital have ceased.
The dispatch related largely to trans
portation conditions and stated that
the railroad beween Taku n Pekin
could not De used at h present time,
as portions of it had been destroyed
by the Chinese. General Chaffee will
cooperate with the other command
ers in China in r~econstructing the Dad
| for the use of the allied forces.
General Chaffee also reported that
the telegraph line, hich was con-
tructed by the signal corps from Tien
Tsin to Pekin, is frequently interrupted
being cut, probably by hostile Chinese.
INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMISSION
Err ROCKHILL.
At a conference at the White house
today, in which the president, Secre-
tary Root and Acting Secretary Adee
participated, careful instructions We're
| prepared for Mr.. Rockhil, the United
| States Cnpnia1 nnrnn piccinnar to China
to be forwarded at nee to him for his
guidance. The state department re-
ceived a dispatch from Mr.. Rockhill
today, dated Yokohama, briefly an
nouncing his arrival there. This
brought about the White house confer
ence and the preparation of instruc-
lions
Before Mr.. Rockhill left ne was adj
vised very fully on the purpose of this
government, but since his departure
the situation has SO changed at Pekin
as to make it desirable to supplement
the instructions he already had re-
ceived. Mr.. Adee stated that as the
Instructions related to pending affairs,
it would be i~nexpedient to max public
anything in reference to them.
AMERICA STILL IN THE LEAD.
The United States has taken the lead
in replying to China that there will be
no ~temporizing negotiations, and there
is every reason to believe the powers
will be united in this same policy. The
answer of the United States was quick
ly followed today by similar action on
the part of Germany, the Berlin for
eign office delivering to the Chinese
minister an answer refusing to enter
into negotiations, o the ground that
there was no evidence hat Ii Hung
Chang's credentials gave him sufficient
power to act and that nothing short Of
complete authority from the RESPONSE
BILE rulers of China, the emperor and
impress dowager, could be regarded as
sufficient. Soon after this action at
Berlin the German charge d'affaires,
Baron Speck Won ~Sternburg, was ad-
vised by cable and ne called at the
state department to inform the au-
thorities of Germany's course. There
was an exchange of Fluctuations, as it
was looked upon as another evidence
of the uniformity Of action between the
United States and Germany.
The Japanese officials expressed their
full conviction that japan would take
similar action if, indeed, such action
already had not bee taken.
The German reply in one respect IS
regarded As having significance beyond
tina of the United States, in that it is
based on the theory that there can be
no sovereign authority in China other
than that emanating from the en-
peror and empress dowager. Amog
diplomatic officials this is said to be
equivalent to an assertion that the ex-
listing regime is to be recognized, and
that there is no purpose to set up any