Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-09-13
IN SECRET CONFERENCE.
Minister WI Confers With State De.
partment officials.


| Washington, Sept. Q. - Minister WI
arrived in Washington from Cape May
yesterday afternoon and, although it
was near the close of the official day,
he proceeded directly to the state de-
partment. 1t is understood that he
had received an intimation that the de-
partment officials were desirous Of con-
ferring with him. hence his return to
Washington. For nearly an hour the
minister was closeted with Acting Sec
rotary Hill and Assistant Secretary
Adee, the door being locked meantime,
and not even the messengers allowed
! entrance. None of the parties at the
conference was communicative as to
the conference, but at its conclusion
DR.. Hill repaired to the White House
with a portfolio filled with papers.
For several hours preceding
The Minister'S Visit.
Acting Secretary Hill and Assistant
Secretary Adee had been engaged in
short conferences. and it was gathered
that the negotiations relative to China
were approaching another phase and
that another pronouncement of some
kind was in preparation. The
, fact is recalled that when the United
States made it's response to the Rus
sian note on the goth ult. the officials
here expressed the belief that about
weeks time would be required to de-
termine upon the next step, and at the
=, end of that time it would be definitely
known whether or not the troops were
to be withdrawn from Picking. The
period Of time has now elapsed The
reports from the European chancel-
tories indicate that. officially at least,
This Important Subject
| is being treated with the greatest de-
liberation and at least another week,
and, probably, even more time may be
consumed in framing the last of the
answers to the Russian note. Mean
while our government has pretty we'll
satisfied itself as to the attitude toward
this last proposition of each and all of
the powers interested in the Chinese
problem. 1t may be that knowledge is
regarded as sufficient with which to
base another forward, and, perhaps, in
this case, an independent movement by
the United States toward the ultimate
withdrawal of the troops and the set
Element with China which the govern
ment has had in mind since the begin
ming of the trouble. The consultations
with Mr.. WI are believed to have been
inspired by
A Desire to Learn
something of the personality of Chinese
notables whose names have been sug-
gested as proper to constitute the
Chinese side of any commission which
may be named to arrange a settlement
of the difficulties. There was a dearth
of official information from China yes
terday. Gen. Chaffee got through a
dispatch, dated Sept. at Picking, indi-
eating that couriers are still employed
to close the gap in the line of communi-
cation between Tien-tsin and Picking.
This dispatch made no mention of the
military situation, and it was inferred
that affairs in Peking were quiet The
message was as follows: Following
extract my report cabled: L wish to
special Col. Daggett,
Fourteenth United States infantry for
/. and good judgment in the
attack on Picking Aug. IA, and
For Gallantry
and excellent supervision of the attack
on the gates of the imperial city Aug.
Is. recommend that he be made a
brigadier general U. S. A. Col. Dag
gett nine months to serve before ar
irving sixty-four. If promoted briga-
der general he will gladly accept re-
tirement Immediately on promotion
-"Chaffee."
If this government is taking any
measures urging the return of the i'm
perial family to Picking the responsible
officers decline to make any statement
on the subject. Such a step, however,
on the part of the Chinese officials, it is
pointed cut, would be highly desirable,
and would facilitate the negotiations
Cor settlement of the existing
troubles. With the responsible heads
of the Chinese government at the cap
ltal diplomatic intercourse could be re-
sumed with the allied powers and more
satisfactory conclusions reached.