Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-08-27

Washington, Aug. 29.-After a long
conference at the white house yester-
day, the reply of the United States to
the application of Lii Hung Chang for
the appointment of peace commission
ers was completed and a copy of the
be forwarded to Earl LII. The state
department made definite announce
ment that a reply had been conveyed
to WI, but added to it's official utter
ance that the correspondence would
not be made public until today. A
copy of the reply was sent to the other
governments represented in China.
The American reply is chiefly charac-
terized by it's firm tone and its brevity.
It's keynote is the presidents attitude, :
as laid down in the American note
July 3. There is the strictest adher-
ence to the points enunciated at that
time. While the document is open TO
the construction of being a rejection
of Ii Hung Changes proposition for
y
probably too strong term to apply to
it, The United States places itself in
the position of being ready at the
proper time to take up peace negotia-
lions but in the present unsettled con-
dition of affairs of the empire the
lack of knowledge as to who are re-
sponsible rulers, and what constitutes
the actual Chinese government, it is
made clear that the time has not ar
rived for pursuing the negotiations
proposed
The most important development of
the day as to the actual conditions in
Pekin came late in the afternoon when
the state department made public the
following dispatch from Minister Con-
ger, dated at Pekin, only three days
ago: "Pekin, Aug. 19.-Entire city
with exception of imperial palace oc-
cupied by Japanese, Russian, British,
American and French It is being
apportioned into districts for
police supervision. Chinese army
fed and imperial family
and escort have gone west
province of Shen-Si. No representa-
tive of the Chinese government are in
sight in Pekin and conditions chaotic.
Palace is expected to be taken imme
diately Many missionaries have
started for home, while others remain
in charge Of Christian refugees, num-
boring about 1000" Conger's message
10 70 Of
f1cials in showing them how complete
ly the entire city is dominated by the
allies. He states it is occupied
throughout, that it is being districted
for police supervision. Conger's state
ment that conditions are chaotic"
was taken as another strong justifca
ton for the firm reply given China.
Minister Conger makes 10 mention Of
his desire to come home and it is
stated officially that this government
has made no suggestion that he re-
turn to this country.
The military situation was of quite
as much interest in the days develop
ments as was the diplomatic. Admiral
Remey reported early III the morning,
L
tons up to Aug. 16. Almost as i'm
portant as the Pekin news was the
statement that the boxers are again
concentrating around Tientsin, and
last Sunday morning the sixth cavalry,
with about 400 English and Japanese
troops, had a lively brush with them
eight miles outside Of Tientsin, where
q hO11t 100 nf Chinese were killed and 3
Americans wounded. Notice was also
received at the department that the
Taku-Chefoo cable was in working or
der. It is thought there will soon be
direct and reliable line of wire COM
munication from the war department
to Chaffees headquarters at
Pekin. Another message from
Chaffee dealt entirely with
military operations and conditions
while it cannot be said to have con-
tanned any bad news, and recorded the
brilliant successes of the American
troops, who have borne themselves SO
CALAMITY in the assault on Pekin, it
contained enough as to the unsettled
conditions in China and the prospect
of long and arduous work in restoring
peace to form the subject for a consul
tation of some hours between the pres
ident and his advisors. The prospect
opened up by Chaffee's dispatch is that
the American contingent of necessity
will be detained in China for some
time to come, probably for the whole
winter