The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-14
UNITED STATES REPLY.
China Must First Deliver the Ambas
sailors.

China Must First Deliver the Ambas-
sadors.
Washington, August 10 The depart
ment OF state today made public the reply
of the United States government. to Min
lister WI communication delivered on
Sunday morning, notifying the depart
ment of the appointment of Earl Ii Hung
Chang as envoy plenipotentiary with the
Powers This reply was sant to Minister
WI at five o'clock Sunday afternoon, and
is as follows:
Touching the imperial edict OF Au-
gust 9Th appointing Ii Hung Chang en-
voy pIenipotentiary to conduct negotia-
tions on the part OF China with the Pow
ers, and the request for a cessation of
hostilities pending negotiations oommu-
nlcated to Mr. Adee by Mr.. WI on the
18th of August, 1900, the government of
the United States learns with satisfaction
of the appointment of Earl Lii Hung
Chang as envoy plenlpotentiary to con-
duct negotiations with the Powers, and
Will, on It's part, enter upon such negoti-
alton with desire to prolong the friend
" relations long existing between the two
countries.
s'It is evident that there can be no gen
eraI negotiations between China and the
Powers so long as the ministers of the
Powers and the persons under their pro-
lection remain in their present position
OF restraint and danger and that the
Powers cannot cease their efforts for the
delivery of these representations to which
they are constrained by the highest con-
siderations of national honor, except I'M
der an arrangement adequate to accom-
pish peaoeable delIverance.
''We are ready to enter into an agree
ment between the powers and the Chinese
government for a cessation of hostile
demonstrations providing that sufficient
body OF the forces composing the relief
expedition shall be permitted TO enter
Pekin unmolested and to escort the for
eign ministers and residents back to Tien
Tsin, this movement being provided for
and secured by such arrangement and
disposition of troops as shall be considered
satisfactory by the generals commanding
the forces composing the relief expedition.
Away A. Adee,
''Acting Secretary, Department Of State.
Washington, august H. 1907
The text of this reply to the overtures
communicated by Mr. Wa was tele-
graphed last night to representatives of
the United States for forwarding to the
representatives of the Powers CO. operat
ing in the relief movement.
That the United States has taken this
course has already become pretty we'll I'M
derstood but the announcement Of the
text of the message disclosed the firm
policy which the United States had
adopted,
The Importance of the action taken by
this government lies to a considerable ex-
tent in the wording of the message.
China has made overtures for peace, and
had thus opened the way for possible
compromise or for further diplomatic
temporiz1ng.
The United States in its response lays
down certain specific preliminaries to any
peace overtures, including an entirely
new demand, namely, that sufficiently
large force from the allied column shall
be allowed to enter Pekin unopposed and
conduct the members of the legations and
their followers from the Chinese capital
to lien Ysin.
HALF WAY TO PEKIN.
Washington August 13.-A dispatch
has been received at the War Department
from Gen. Chaffee, dated August 10,
which says: ARRIVED at Nos Pl WI
yesterday
This place, which is spelled Ho ST
WI on the War Department maps, is
about half way between lien Tsin and
Pekin.