The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-08-08
Only Onv Step From
War With China

/
Washington. Aug 2.-The state de.
psrsmeot has made public the follow.
Jog correspondence between Ii Huue
Chaog aud the state department re-.
gsrding the abandon ment of the cam.
psign on Pekiu:
Telegram sent to the United Ststes
embassies 10 Berlin. London, Paris
Rome and St. Petersburg aud to the
United States minister. Toxic.
State Department,
Washington. Aug. 1, 1900.
10 reply to a question Of III Hung
chang that tho ministers might be sen t
under safe escort to Tien Tsiu provided
the powers would engage not to march
on Pekio. the secretary of state, re.
piled 90 the 3Osh Of July:
This government will not enter
into any arrangement regarding dis.
position OF treatment of legations With.
out 6rst having free mmunicatiou
With Minister Conger. Respou sibiii.y
tor their protection rests upon Chinese
government. Power 10 deliver at Tieo
Tsio presupposes power to protect aud
to open communication. This is 10.
sisted oo."
This message was delivered to Vice.
roy Ii by Mr Gooduow on the 3lst.
Ficeroy Ii then eoquired whether "if
comm unication were established be .
tween ministers and their govern N ents
it could be arranged that the powers
should not advance on Pekiu pending
negotiations"
To this inquiry the following reply
was sent on the 1st of August:
"Goodnow, Consul General. Shan hal:
Il do not think it expedient to sub.
nit the proposition Of Earl Ii to the
other powers. Free commuuioa.,ou
With onr representatives 10 Pekin is
demanded as matter Of absolute right
and not as favor. Since the Chioe,e
government admits that it possesses the
power to give comm unication, it put
itself 10 an uufriendly attitude by deny.
ing it No negotiations seem advis
able until the Chinese govern ment shall
have put the diplomatic representatives,
of the powers 10 full aud free oommu
nication wish their respective govern.
ments aod removed all danger to lives
sod liberty We would urge Earl Lii
earnestly to advise the imperial au.
thorities OF China to place themselves
10 friendly communication and cooper
alton with the relief expedition Tbey
are assuming . heavy responsibility 10
acting other wise Hay"
You will communicate this loforma
ton to the minister Of foreigu affairs
AN OMINOUs NOTE.
Secretary Hays reply to Lii Hung
Chang has closed the negotiations With
China unless the old viceroy is able
to secure the foil acceptance of our
terms relative to the forelgn ministers
aod that at once. No orders therefore
looking to q relaxation of the prepara
tioos for the advance on Pekin have
gone out from Washington. for. az the
situation is described by oue of the
leading officials here ",here will be 90
bargaining on our part 10 advance of
the concession by the Chinese autbori
ties to full and free communication with
the foreign ministers " There is
moreover. vote ominousIy close to
actual war iu Secretary Hays declar
alton that the conduct of the Chinese
government IS "unfriendly." That
Kind of language is extreme 10 diplo.
macy. and it is only a narrow step be-.
tween it and formal war
The impression prevails here tha. the
Chinese government. If it is not abso.
lufeiy bereft OF power to ao: 10 defiance
of the Boxers will accep, our terms and
some such action is looked sor very
soon. Possibly battle, 20: more, /. is
believed. than one at most. will be
required to bring the imperial govern.
meDt to the point Of acceptance, thou oh
In that case it is questionable whether
the original conditions would be regard.
ed as still open to acceptance If the
Ch'nese government now accepts, how
ever, the United States governmt,t
will be face to face with one of tho
most delicate Hnd momontous diplo-
matlo tasks ever undertaken II must
attempt to redeem its promise to use ITS
good oftlces in favor Of China, and in
the present temper Of some Of tho
European powers. the greatest diffi,ul-
ties may be expected to arise in tho
prosecution of the at,omFt. 1t ia the
oouideos expectations of the officials
! here. however. that il the Chinese