Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-27
Vigorous Reply Returned to China's
Proposition.
PRICE FOR SURRENDER OF MINISTER'S
Suspension of the Campaign
Against Pekin.
CONFERENCE OF CABINET

Secretary Hay sgnalized his return to
Washington from Canton this morning by
the announcement that under no circum-
| stances will the United States government
accept the Chinese offer to turn over the
foreign ministers at Pekin to the allies at
Tien Tsin in consideration of a suspension
of the campaign against Pekin. A long
cablegram was dispatched today to Rear
Admiral Remey at Taku, and it is believed
that this instruction was laid upon him.
The State Department is pursuing an en-
tirely consistent course in this decision.
The officials point out that all of the bitter
criticism in the European papers directed
against the United States policy is based upon
total misunderstanding of the fundamen-
| tai principles which have governed the ac-
tions of the department. At no time, it is
said. has the State Department allowed the
belief that the foreign ministers at Pekin
were alive long af.er the various dates set
for their massacre to interfere in the slight
est degree with the prosecution of its mill
ta-ry plans for reaching Pekin. On the con-
trary. the news that the ministers were
| alive was accepted by the State Depart
ment not as conveying absolute verify, but
as an additional reason for fastening the
ielief column forward to Pekin.
The Departments Attitude.
1t was the departments contention that
even though degree of impro5ability sur
rounded the Chinese news as to the state of
affairs in Pekin, yet every consideration of
humanity and policy demanded that it
should be given careful consideration and
that it should be acted upon if true
provided that action went toward the relief
| OF the foreign ministers and did not oper-
ate to prevent the consummation of any of
the objects laid down in Secretary Hay $
| identical note. The department is abso-
| lutely satisfied that its attitude was per-
| fcctly correct and that even European
| critics will in time admit that fact
Secretary Hays decision to decline the
latest Chinese proposition is based upon his
| determination to adhere strictly to the con-
| ditions laid down in the reply to the Chi
| nese emperor's appeal. The State Depart
ment required that the ministers at Pekin
be put In communication with their govern
| ments, and-the most significant condition
| OF all-that the Chinese authorities Coop
,, crate with the relief expedition for the lib
Grafton OF the legations. Until these two
things are done the State Department alb
solutely refuses to be led into any arrange
| ment looking to the mitigation of the pun
ishment of the Chinese government, such
as the abandonment of the expedition to
Pekin.
How the Offer Came.
1t Is not known at present Just how this
| latest proposition reached the State Depart
| ment. 1t is inferred that it came from
several sources but all are believed to be
| traceable to one person, the famous Ii
Hung Chang. Mr.. Goodnow, our consul
general at Shanghai, is the nearest United
States official to Ii and has acquitted him
self so well up to this point that the State
Department does not hesitate to make free
use OF him as a diplomatic agent. Therefore
| 1t may be interesting for the foreign con-
tlngent at Shanghai, who have complained
against Mr.. Goodnow's intercourse with Ii
Hung Chang to know that the consul gen.
eral is acting in strict accordance with the
instructions of the State Department. Sec
retary Hay cabled him to put himself in
communication with Earl Lii and to avail
| as far as possible of that Chinese officials
influence in securing the objects plainly
stated in the Identical note
1t does not follow that the United States
| Is bound to accept without question any
statement made by Ii. Mr.. Goodnow is a
shrewd man and the Department of State
| feels itself able, using him as an inter-
| iiiStisiis, ~ give proper weight TO any,
thing coming from the great viceroy In
| so doing it is simply carrying out its policy
| of making all proper use of any instrument
| talities within its reach to achieve its we'll
defined objects, and is not to be deferred
| from so doing by any unwarranted criti-
cisms that it is thereby disturbing the soli-
darity of the powers in their dealings with
| the Chinese government.
Cabinet Con renco
special cabinet meeting was held in
Secretary Hays office at IL o'clock this
| morning, the usual hour. The Secretary of
State, fresh from his personal intercourse
with the President, was in position to ad-
wise his colleagues of the administrator
purpose and the whole Chinese situation
was discussed. Besides Secretary Hay
there were present Secretary Gage, Post
| master General Smith and Secretary Root
There were no official advices from any
Chinese source over night, except a short
| message from Lieut.. Stanford, the signal
officer with Gen. Chaffee's contingent at
Nagasaki, announcing that all was well
| with the troops.
The meeting was not called for any spe-
| cial purpose. as. by general consent, it is
| deemed advisable to get together at least
once a week and talk over affairs.
Inc Ieelng among the caDlnet members
| was not SO optimistic. AS one Of them ex-
pressed it, hope is still entertained for the
| safety of the legations, but the impression
| was given that it is now rather a forlorn
hope.
There is no disposition to refuse to ac-
cept the friendly assurances of the Chinese
government. At the same time, they are
accepted with that spirit of reserve which
will prevent this government from being
| placed at disadvantage if they should, I'M
| happily, prove to have been not well
! founded.
There is to be no cessation of the prep
| arations for joining in the move upon
Pekin If the foreign legations are not deliv-
cred in the meantime. 1t is stated that a
! movement is contemplated at a date as
early as possible. in which the United
States will certainly join.