New-York tribune., 1900-08-09
INSISTING ON DEMAND.
Continued from page one.


china, who have murdered the Minister of Ger
and a member Of the Japanese Legation.
and who now hold besieged in Peking those for
sign diplomatists who still survive. have not
only not received any favor or ENCOURAGEMENT
from Your Majesty, but are actually in rebellion
against the Imperial authorities. II this be the
aase. most solemnly urge upon Your Matesty's
Government TO give public assurance whether
the foreign Ministers alive. and. If So in
what condition
Second-To put the diplomatic representatives
ef the Powers in immediate and free eommuni-
eation with their respective governments, and 70
remove sill danger to their lives and liberty.
Third-To place the Imperial authorities or
China in communication with the relief expedi-
ton, so that cooperation may be secured De-
tween them for the liberation of the legations.
the protection Of foreigners and the restoration
pf order.
II these objects are accomplished, It is the
belief Of this Government that no obstacles Will
be found to exist on the part OF the Powers 70
sn amicahle settlement OF ali the questions aF1s-
Ing out of the recent troubles and the friendly
good Offices OF this Government WILL with the
assent Of the other Powers. be cheerfully placed
at Your Majesty's disposition for that purpose.
MESSAGE SENT TO CHINA.
The Cabinet officers who are in town were in
consultation with one another all day. and they
also conferred with the President by telegraph
and over the long distance telephone. Secretary
Root held two conferences with Attorney-Gen-
rral Griggs and several with Acting Secretary
Adee, and their views were communicated 10
The president II was announced OrnClaIly dI the
eiose Of the day that a message to the lmperla4
authorities in Peking had been delivered to
Minister WI for transmission to his Govern
naent- The text Of the message was prepared oy
Acting Secretary Adee and Secretary Root, ana
IL its final form was made known to the Presi-
eent by Mr.. Root over the White House long
distance telephone 1t was said that the text
Of this latest communication TO China viii not De
made public until Minister Wu has had an op-
portunity to forward IT to his Government OIf-
sials were not willing TO outline in any dennlte
manner the contents Of the message, although
was generally understood that the cornTnunIca-
ton was emphatic and to the point. According
% the best information obtainable 1t says that
he removal of the restrictions communication
with the American Minister, evidenced both by
the receipt of Mr. Conger's message and the
transmission of the edct Of August D, is gratlty-
ing. but is not an entire compliance with the
5riginal demands Of the President IN MS reply
to the appeal for mediation.
MANY RUMoRs AFLoAT.
The corridors of the State and War depart
nnents were thronged until late in the day with
curious and inquisitive representatives of the
press. striving to find out what it was intended
70 do, but the walls had not ears, and specula-
ton had TO take the place Of information. One
theory was that his passports were TO be handed
70 the Chinese Minister by Eddie" Savoy, the
trusted messenger of the State Department, who
performed like service for Minister De LONE
couple OF years ago; another was that Congress
was to be convened in special session immedt-
ately 10 declare war against China; still an
other was that the Government of the United
States was about ito issue an ultimatum" TO
China, presumably without the aid consent
o. any other nation" Other theories were sug
gested. so that there was wide variety from
which 10 choose. It is believed that the extract
given above from President McKinley's letter is
the key to a correct solution Of the puzzle. It
may be remembered that this letter the last
direct official communication from the Govern
fnent OF the United States to the Imperial Gov
ernment of China. and that copies of IL were
transmitted TO the other Powers interested.
Some Of the terms Of that letter have been COM
piled with by the Imperial Government and
heF ha 10 aHo+a
modify, but rather TO insist more strongly than
ever on strict and literal compliance with the
conditions which as yet remain rnfulflled.
MR.. CoNGER MAY DELIVER IT
Such the tenor and tone of Secretary
Hays dispatch Of August 2 to Consul General
Goodnow in answer to an appeal made by Ii
Hung Chang. and although that was not an
official communication to the Imperial Govern
rnent, il simply restated in little palmer and
more peremptory language the terms of the
language employed in the communication
drafted to-day may have been still palmer, and
its tone even NOM insistent than those Of the
dispatch TO Consul-General Goodnow for Ii
Hung Chang. It also suggests possibility that
Minister Conger, and not Minister WI. may be
the medium employed to introduce this COM
munication to the notice of the Imperial Gov
ernment, for II that Government is able to guar
antee him freedom Of communication with his
own Government il is also able to protect him
in the performance Of his official functions
the diplomatic representative of his Govern
nent.
With reference TO the functions which Ii
Hung Chang has been exercising since the ex-
listing troubles began, there is an impression in
some quarters here that he has been doing just
what he was instructed to do by the Imperial
authorities before ne left Canton. 1t is sug-
gested that he was ordered to go to Shanghai,
where he would be in touch with the outside
world, and not Peking, where he would not
be; that his instructions are to temporize with
the foreign Powers to the extent of his ability,
and TO try to provoke discord and create Jeal-
Ousies among them, and by alternately begging
and threatening 10 confuse the situation. Even
men who are inclined to belittle his influence
with the dynasty and to decry his abilities ad-
NIT that this view be the correct