Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-08-16
CHINA SUES FOR PEACE.
Imperial Edict Transmitted For
Consideration of the Powers.
FOR CESSATION OF HOsTILITIEs
Ii Hung Chang Appointed by the
Chinese Government to Bring About
Satisfactory Terms-Gafcty of Le-
rationers Must Re Assured.


Chinese Government to Bring About
Satisfactory Terms-Gnfcty of Lee
gationers Must BE Assured.
Washington. Aug. 13.-Indications Of
the desire of China for peaceful set
tlement of her present difficulties have
been multiplying for several days. Of
fetal evidence of that desire was pre-
sented to the department of state yes
terday 1t was in the form of an edict
promulgated by the emperor, Kwang
Hsu, appointing Earl Ii Hung Chang
as envoy plenipotentiary to negotiate
with the powers for an immediate
cessation of hostilities," pending a So
luton of the problems which have
grown out of the anti-foreign uprising
in the empire. Earl Ii is to act di-
rectly for the emperor, and fair in
ference is that whatever terms of set
tlement he may reach with the powers
will be approved by the imperial gov
ernment
The imperial edict, as transmitted
by the privy council, is as follows:
I'm the present conflict between Chi
nese and foreigners there has been
some misunderstanding on the part Of
foreign nations and also a want of
proper management on the part of
some of the local authorities. A clash
of arms is followed by calamitous re-
suits and caused a rupture of friendly
relations which will ultimately do no
good to the world. We hereby appoint
Ii Hung Chang as our envoy plenipo-
tentiary, with instructions to propose
at once by telegraph 70 the govern
ments of the several powers concerned
for the immediate cessation of hostile
demonstrations pending negotiations,
which he is hereby authorized to con-
duct for our part, for the settlement of
whatever questions may have to be
dealth with. The questions are to be
severally considered in a satisfactory
manner, and the result of the negO-
tiations reported to us for our sane
ton"
While it is conceded by the Wash
ington officials that the conference Of
plenary authority upon Earl Ii to ne
gotiate with the powers for a settle
ment of existing troubles is a step in
the right direction, it by no means is
assured that the United States gov
ernment will consent offhand to open
negotiations with the distinguished
viceroy. The demands of this govern
ment upon China have been made
plainly and without equivocation. They
cannot be misunderstood. Assuming
that the Chinese government is acting
in good faith, the demands are reason
able and can be complied with readily.
AS transmitted to the imperial gov
ernment by the acting secretary of
state through Minister WI, the de-
mands, in brief, were:
THAT the Chinese government give
assurance that the foreign ministers
are alive, and if so, in what condi-
ton; that the ministers be placed in
free communication with their gov
ernments, firing upon the legations
cease and all dangers to their lives
and liberty be removed; that the i'm
perial authorities place themselves in
communication with the relief expedi-
tion, so that the legationers may be
liberated, foreigners protected and or
der restored"
Until these demands have been ac-
ceded to it is regarded as highly i'm
probable that the government of the
United States or any of the European
governments, all of which have made
practically the same demands upon
China, will consent to a cessation of
hostile demonstrations" which are be-
ing conducted, at least so far as this
government is concerned, with the sole
purpose of suceoring the besieged le-
gationers in the Chinese capital
During the day the war department
officials awaited anxiously additional
news from Gen. Chaffee. One dispatch
was received from him, transmitting
a message he had received from Min
lister Conger. Evidently the message
had been delayed long in reaching him
and his own dispatch was dated four
days ago. The dispatch was as fol-
lows:
I'VE will hold on until your arrival.
Hope 1t will be soon. Send such in
formation as you can"
While the message of Minister Con-
ger contains nothing new, it was en-
couraging to the officials to have re-
newed assurances of his ability and
lief reached him Mr.. Congers ex-
preston of hope that the long looked
for relief may soon reach him simply
adds to the determination of the gov
ernment to press forward to Pekin as
rapidly as may be possible.
Last night Secretary Adee. by direc-
fion Of President Mckinley, presented
10 Minister WI for transmission to his
government the reply of the United
States to the imperial edict appointing
Ii Hung Chang envoy TO negotiate
with the powers for Il cessation Of hos
Gilities In effect it Is raiteration of
the demands previously made ty the
United States upon China, coupled with
a vigorous intination that no resotia-
f'ons WjN l7 entered into until the
Chinese gt''. NJ shall have com
piled with tiua nandS.
JoGn =. CarsaH was murdered Satur-