The Portland daily press., 1900-08-29
Scenes of Wanton Destruction in
Legation Streets.
st. Petersburg Hears Peace Negotiations
Have Begun.

sources of heavy engagements between
the international forces and the Boxers,
the officials here are satisfied that no for
midabIe organized resistance win be
offered by the Chinese if the demands of
the powers are limited to the principles
laid down By the United States in its
several notes.
Therefore more interest attached to a
series of diplomatic calls upon Acting
Secretary Adee this afternoon than any
report. OF purely military operations in
China. First came the Japanese minis
ter, Mr.. Takahira, next the Russian
charge, Mr.. Wollant and finally Mr..
Ihiebaut, the French charge. These
trained diplomats naturally are averse
to letting the public know Of the devel-
opment of incomplete negotiations. New
ertheless, it was gathered that one of the
principal topics OF discussion was the
propriety OF accepting Ii Hung Chang
as a proper person with whom the powers
might negotiate for a settlement in Chi
ma. 1t is quite evident from the confer
ences held this afternoon that the state
ment made early in the day to the effect
that this matter is still an open issue was
correct. Otherwise it would not have been
necessary for the officials to- enter into a
laborious comparison of the texts OF the
credentials supplied by Ii Hung Chang
to the various powers of Europe as well
as Japan and the United States. Past ex-
perience with some Of the Chinese DEGREES
has shown very radical differences in the
.oy,eIo4iO,,r ard &c -o 7,,,7oE, +r,,.,,. ~, = \ a
form of Earl LIS credentials it is regard
ed as highly important that these shall be
shown to agree in each case.
Tine statement is made that the Russian
government for one is willing to deal
with Ii, of course upon properly tram ed
conditions and this appears to be borne
out by the earnestness with which Mr.
WoIIant is seeking to impress upon the
State Department. the entire agreement
between Russia and the United States
as to China. at least he insists that Rus
sia wishes to prevent the dismemberment
of China, and also that her animating
purpose now IS the restoration of order
and the safeguarding OF the future I'M
der these limitations, it is urged that
Russia's objects can be achieved as we'll
as those of the United States by dealing
with Lii Hung Chang, who occupies the
advantageous position OF being the only
Chinese parsonage, SO far, officially ac-
credited as q peace plenipotentiary. Act
Ing Secretary Adee found sufficient mat
er of interest in these three calls to re-
pair TO the White House late in the after
noon to confer with the President. It is
quite certain that our government is will |
ing and anxious to do all it can to bring
about a speedy settlement OF the Chinese
difficulty and q retirement of the forces.
But it is determined that no proper adj
vantage is to be lost through this wish
and the government VIII not be coerced
by foreign combinations or threats OF
combinations against our interest.
One of the officials of the government
today said: 1.-The United States is not go
ing to turn tail and run because som9 OF
the powers show disposition to break q
compact, under which we became a lies
IN China. The powers accepted the note
Of Secretary Hay of July Sd as a basis
for joint action and they win be held to
that agreement. The question OF actual
force in China is secondary regiment
OF United States troops is as good as 100, J., |
600 men to establish o principle.
IAN indignity offered to them would
be resented as quickly as if we had 100, :
600 men ON Chinese soil, and the United
States government is willing to try the
case as to whether one thing could be said
on July 3D. and accepted by all the pow
ers, and changed two months later to adj
vance a selfish interest,
Notwithstanding this firm attitude ON
the part of this government there is not
the least doubt that friction between