Arizona republican., 1900-08-23

Washington, Aug. 22.-After a long conference at the White House today the reply of the United States to the application of Ii Hung Chang for the appointment of peace commissioners was completed and copy of the reply was sent to the Chinese minister, MT. Wu, to be forwarded to Earl Lii. The state department made a definite an nouncement that the reply had been conveyed to MT. Wu, but added to it's official utterance that the cOrrespOn- dence would not be made public until tomorrow morning. A copy of the re- ply was sent to the other governments represented in China.
 The American reply is chiefly char acterized by it's firm tone and it's breV- ity. Its keynote is the presidents at titude as laid down in the American note of July 23 and there is the strict est adherence to the points enunclated at that time While the document IS open to the construction of being a re- jection of Lii Hung Chang's proposition for immediate negotiations, yet 1t IS stated by those who have read the answer with care and have had a part in its preparation, that rejection is probably too strong a term to apply to it. The United States places itself in the position Of being ready at the prop CT time to take up peace negotiations. but in the present unsettled conditions of affairs in the empire, the lacE 3t knowledge as to who are the respon- sible rulers and what constitutes the actual Chinese government. it is made clear that the time has not arrived Tor pursuing the negotiations proposed.
 The formal courtesy of diplomatic procedure is preserved but at the same time the entire tenor of the document is marked by force and firmness. The government of the United States takes the position that negotiations are inn possible with a government which can not prevent hostilities against the forces of powers, which were sent to the Chinese capital to save their ep- voys As long as the attacks are made on troops of this and other govern ments such as have followed the Occu- patton of Pekin and attacks in the vi cinity 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. however, that the reply is a step in the direction of operlng ne- gotiatiOns No question is raised as to the authority of Iii Hung Chang to represent his government. but it is said that his credentials, like those of all others who come together for the purpose of negotiating terms of peace, will be examined by the respective gov ernments and the validity of the papers of each representative determined by that body. The United States. however in communicating with MT. Wu. recog- nizes him as the official representative of the Chinese government.
 Minister Wu received the reply this afternoon and work was immediately begun on it's translation, first from the American to the Chinese and then from the Chinese into cipher. This took some time and it was not until late in the day that the reply was actually dis patched.
 The most important dispatch of the day was not made public by the war department, but was the subject of an extended conference at the White House this morning between the presi- dent and Secretary Root and Acting Secretary of State Adee. It was from General Chaffee. It was dated the 1Sth and therefore was not a reply to the message of inquiry sent to General Chaffee by the war department on Monday night. Still. it answered d number of inquiries contained in that message. It dealt entirely with mii- tary operations and conditions While it cannot be said to have contained any bad news, and recorded the brilliant success of the American troops. who have borne themselves so gallantly in the assault on Pekin, it contained enough as to the unsettled conditions in China and the prospect of long and arduOus work in restoring peace Co form a subject for consultation of some hours between the president and his advisers.