The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-08-08
A CRISIS AT HAND.
We Are Only One Step from War
With China.
NEGOTIATIONS DECLINED
Until China Puts Ministers In
Safety and Free commu-
nicafions With Their
Governments.
Governments.

The state department has made pub
lie the correspondence between Ii
Hung Chang and the state department.
regarding the abandonment Of the cam
paign on Pekin. The following tele-
gram sent to the United States embas-
sizes in Berlin, London, Paris, Rome
and St. Petersburg and to the United
States minister, Toxic:
State Department, Washington, Aug.
l, 1900.
In reply to suggestion Of Ii Hung
Chang that the ministers might be
sent under safe escort to Tien Tsin pro-
vided the powers would engage not to
march on Pekin. the secretary Of state,
replied on the 30th of July:
This government will not enter in
to any arrangement regarding disposi-
tion or treatment Of legations without
first having free Communication With
Minister Conger. Responsibility for
their protection rests upon Chinese
government. Power to deliver at Tien
Tsin presupposes power to protect aud
to open communication. This is in-
sisted on"
This message was delivered to Vice
roy Ii by Mr.. GoodnoW on the 3lst.
Viceroy Ii then enquired whether 'sif
communication were established be-
tween ministers and their governments
it could be arranged that the powers
should not advance on Pekin pending
negotiations
To this inquiry the following reply
was sent on the lst Of August:
"Goodnow, Consul General, Shanghai:
81 do not think it expedient to sub-
NIT the proposition Of Earl Ii to the
other powers. Free communication
with our representatives in Pekin is de-
manded as matter Of absolute right
and not as favor. Since the Chinese
government admits that it possesses
the power to give communication, it puts
itself in an unfriendly attitude by de-
nying it. No negotiations seem adyisa-
Bile until the Chinese government shall
have put the diplomatic representatives
Of the powers in full and free commu-
nication with their respective govern
ments and removed all danger to lives
and liberty. We would urge Earl Ii
earnestly to advise the imperial au-
thorities of China to place themselves
in friendly communication and cooper
alton with the relief expedition. They
are assuming heavy responsibility in
acting otherwise. Hay"
You will communicate this informa-
ton to the minister Of foreign affairs.
AN oNINoUs NOTE.
Secretary Hays reply to Ii Hung
Chang has closed the negotiations with
China unless the old viceroy is able to
secure the full acceptance Of our terms
relative to the foreign ministers and
that at once. No order therefore LOOK
ing to relaxation Of the preparations
for the advance on Pekin have gone
out from Washington, for, as the situ-
alton is described by one Of the leading
officials here ''there will be no bargain
Ing on our part IN ADVANCE or tne con-
cession by the Chinese authorities to
full and free communication with the
foreign ministers" There is, more
over, a note ominously close to actual
war in Secretary Hays declaration
that the conduct Of the Chinese govern
ment is "unfriendly." That kind Of
language is extreme in diplomacy, and
it is only narrow step between it and
formal war.
The impression prevails that the
Chinese government, if it is not abso-
lutely bereft Of power to act in defiance
of the Boxers, will accept our terms
and some such action is looked for
very soon. Possiblya battle, not more
it is believed, than one at most, will
be required to bring the imperial gov
eroment to the point of acceptance.