The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-03
CHINA MUST ACT NOW
Believed in Washington That it May
Accept Our Terms.
IF THE BOXERS HAVE LEFT IT ANY POWER
Foreign Advices State That 10000 Interna.
tonals Are Marching on Pekn. Wash
ngton Does Not Believe the Ad-
Manca From Tinn Tcin Rnnnn
vance From Tien Tsin Begun.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
Washington, August 2.-Secretary
Hays reply to Ii Hung Chang has
closed the negotiations with China
unless the old Viceroy is able to Sc
cure the full acceptance of our terms
relative to the foreign Ministers, and
that at once. No orders therefore
looking to a relaxation of the prepar-
ations for the advance on Pekin have
gone out from Washington, for, as
the situation is described by one of
the leading officials here, "There will
be no bargaining on our part in adj
vance of the concession by the Chinese
authorities of full and free commu-
nication with the foreign Ministers"
There is, moreover, a note ominously
close to actual war in Secretary Hays
declaration that the conduct of the
Chinese Government is "unfriendly."
That kind of language is extreme in
diplomacy and it is only narrow
step between it and formal war.
The impression prevails here that
| the Chinese Government, if it is not
absolutely bereft of power to act in
defiance of the Boxers, will accept
our terms, and some such action is
| looked for very soon. Possibly bat
| tie, not more it is believed than one
| at most, will be required to bring
! the Imperial Government to the point
of acceptance, though in that case
it is questionable whether the origi-
nal conditions would be regared as
| still open to acceptance. If the Chi
| neSe Government now accepts, how
ever, the United States Government
| will be face to face with one of the
most delicate and momentous diplO-
matte tasks ever undertaken. 1t must
attempt to redeem its promise to use
| its good Offices in favor of China, and
in the present temper of some of the
European powers the greatest diff
culties may be expected to arise in
| the prosecution of the attempt. 1t is
the confident expectation of the Off
Gals here, however, that if the Chi
nese Government actually and in good
| faith meets all of the four conditions
laid down by the President in his re-
ply to the Chinese Emperor's appeal
for aid, that at least majority of the
| powers now represented in China will
accept that as proper base upon
which to cease present haStilitieS and
open negotiations for a settlement.
The decision of the ajority in such
case without doubt would receive the
| acquiescence of the minority, else an
interminable ENHANCEMENT might
arise.
Secretary Root said this afternoon
there had been no developments
which would necessitate any changes
in the instructions to General Chat
fee or which would change the inten-
tions of the Government in the least.
A cipher cable message was sent to
General Chaffee by Secretary Root to-
day which contained additional infor-
nation and facts which have develop
ed since the last message was sent
him at Nagasaki. The message con-
tanned no additional instructions, but
merely information which he may use
as a guide to his actions.
1t is not believed at the War De-
partment that an advance has been
made as yet from Tien Tsin. 1t is
explained Tat the last dispatches in
Dictated a great deal of delay in un-
loading the transports and before any
advance can be made the troops must
have all their equipments and trans
portation for them. The indications
are that the plans being matured at
Tien Tsin contemplate a rapid adj
vance when the movement begins, for
it seems to be understood that there
will be carried with the army suffi
Gent quantity of supplies to main
tain the troops on the march to Pekin
and return, if a return should be adj
visable.
The fact that no reports were re-
ceived from General Chaffee during
the day was not surprising to the War
Department officials, who said that
the general was busy preparing for
the campaign and moreover communl-
cation between Taku and Che Foo is
uncertain.