The Portland daily press., 1900-08-10
Place To Be Used as Base For Ad-
vance on Pekin.


eign ministers free communication with
their respective governments in cipher
and have sent communication to Min
lister Conger to which we walt an an
swer.
We are already advised by him in a
brief despatch dated August Z, that Inn
perial troops are firing daily upon the
ministers in Pekfn. We demand the Inn
mediate cessation of hostihties by inn
peria1 troops upon the legations, and urge
the exercise of every power and energy of
the imperial government for ths protec-
tion of the legations and all of the min
listers therein. We are also advised by
the same despatch from Minister Conger
that, in his opinion, for the foreign min
listers to leave Pekin as proposed in the
edict of August would be certain death.
In view of the TACT that the imperial
troops are now firing upon the legations,
and in view of the doubt expressed by
the imperial government in its ediot of
August 2, as to its power to restore order
and secure absolute safety in Pekin, it is
evident that this apprehension is well
founded, for If your government cannot
protect our minister IN Pekin, it will
presumably be unable to protect him up
on journey from Pekin to the coast.
We therefore urge upon the imperial
government that it shall adopt the
course suggested in the third clause of
the letter Of the presi dent to his majesty
the Emperor of China, of July %, 1900,
relief expedition so that cooperation
may be secured between them for the lib
GRAFTON of the legations, the protection of
foreigners and the restoration of order.
Such action on the part of the imperial
government would be satisfactory de-
monstration of its friendIiness and desire
to attain these ends.
galway Adee, Acting Secretary.
Department of State, Washington, Au-
gust s, 1900"
Minister WI worked assiduously on the
message during the day, translating it
first from English to Chinese and then
from Chinese to the cipher code OF China.
Owing to the gravity OF the document,
this work required scrupulous exactness
and time, but it is probable it is by this
time on IT'S way to the Chinese govern
ment The yarions foreign representa-
tives in the city showed keen interest in
this latest move by the United States and
called at the state department to inquire
concerning it. They were furnished
copies OF the demand and in an informal
manner expressed their approval OF what
had been done. This action by the
United States was taken solely on it's
own responsibility, without consulting
other powers as to the advisability of the
demand
The use of the word demand in the
American note thoroughly indicates the
urgency of the message. In the technical
parIance of diplomacy it differs from an
ultimatum which usually fixes a date or
sets time within which there must be
compliance, the lack or compliance dur
ing the stated time being a ground for
war. While demand is less specific as to
time or compliance, it none the less as
serts positive right which the govern
ment will enforce, If the right be not
conceded. Owing to the difficulties of
communication with Pekin it Is expected
that some days must lapse before an an
swer can be received and there is a dispo-
sition to grant all reasonable time for
the transmission.
Later in the day the state department.
received an Important despatch from
Consul General Goodnow at Shanghai an
nouncing the landing of British troops at
that point. The consul general did not
state that he had protested against this
action and the state department. judged
from this that no protest would have
been made by him in the absence of in
structions. He states, however. that the
merchants OF the city strongly disap-
proved the landing of the British troops,
fearing that 1t would incite the anti-for-