The age-herald., 1900-08-23
China Either Unwilling or Una
 bIe to Prevent Them.
REPLY GIVEN TO MINISTER WU
Conger Sends Dispatch Saying Ameri- can Troops Have Occupied En- tire City. and Are Dividing
 It Into Police Districts

Washington, Aug. 22-After a long con- ference at the White House today, the re- ply of the United States to the application of Ii Hung Chang for the appointment of peace commissioners was completed and a copy of the reply sent to the Chinese min ister, MT. Wu, to be forwarded to Earl LA. The State Department made definite an- nouncement that the reply had been con- veyed to Mir Wu, but added to it's official utterance that the correspondence would not be made public until tomorrow morn- ing. A copy of the reply sent to other governments represented In China.
 The American reply is chiefly character ized by its firm tone and it's brevity. Its keynote Is the Presidents attitude laid down in the American note of July 3, and there is the strictest adherence to the points enunciated al that time. While the document is open to the construction of be- ing rejection of Ii Hung Chang's propo- sition for immediate negotiations, yet 1t is stated by those who have read the ans wer with care and have had a part in its preparation that rejection Is probably too strong a term to apply to 1t.
 The United States places itself in the position of being ready at the proper time to take up peace negotiations, but in the present unsettled condition of affairs in the empire, the lack of knowledge as to who are the responsible rulers and what constitutes the actual Chinese government 1t is made clear that the time had not yet arrived for pursuing the negotiation proposed.
 One of Firmness
 The formal courtesy of diplomatic pro- cedure is preserved, but at the same time the entire tenor of the document Is one of force and firmness. The government of the United States takes the position that negotiations are impossible with govern ment which cannot prevent hostilities against the forces of the powers, which were sent to the Chinese capitol to save their envoys. As long as attacks are made on the troops of this and other govern ments such as have followed the occupa- ton of Pekin and the attacks in the vi- cinity of Tien Tsin, it is deemed that the Chinese government is either unwilling or unable to prevent these hostilities, and for this reason negotiations must be deferred. It is said, however, that the reply is a step in the direction of opening negotiations. No question is raised as to the authority of u Hung Chang to represent his govern ment, but it is said that his credentials, like those of all others who come together for the purpose of negotiating terms of peace, will be examined by the respective representatives and the validity of the pa- pers of each representative determined by that body. The United States, however, in communicating with MT. Wu, recognizes him as the official representative of the Chinese government.
 MT Wu received the reply early this afternoon and work was begun on its translation, first on the American text to the Chinese and then from Chinese into cipher. This took some time, and it was not until late in the day that the reply was actually dispatched.
 Minister Conger's Me- sage
 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 dispatch from Minister Conger, dated Pekn only three days ago. It was given out with the fol- lowing statement:
 Washington, August 22-The State De- partment authorizes the announcement of the receipt at an early hour this (Wednes- day) morning, through the Consul at Che Foo, of a telegram from Minister Conger in the Department Cipher to the following effect:
 "Pekin, August 19.-Secretary of State, Washington: The entire city with the ex- ception of the Imperial Palace is occupied by Japanese, Russians, British, Ameri- cans and French. It is being apportioned Into TOT pOllCe SuperVls1On. Ine Chinese army fed The Imperial family and the court have gone westward prob- ably to Si-An-Fu, in the Province of Shen- Si No representatives of the Chinese Gov ernment are in sight in Pekin, and the con- ditions are chaotic. The palace is expected to be taken immediately. Many mission aries have started for home, while others remain in charge of the Christian refugees, numbering about 1000.
 OSigned) "CoNGER"
 MT. Congers message was particularly welcome to officials in showing how con- pletely the entire city is dominated by the allies. He states that 1t Is occupied throughout and that 1t Is being districted for police supervision This last measure shows the thoroughness with which the allies are applying civil methods to the Chinese capital MT. Conger's statement that the conditions are chaotic was taken as another strong Justification for the firm reply given to China today. He emphasizes the facts that the Chinese army has fled, the Imperial family and court have gone and no representative of the Chinese Government is to be seen in Pekin.
 No Desire to Come Home
 MT. Conger makes no mention of his de- sire to come home, and it is said officially that this government has made no sugges- tion that he return.
 The military situation was of quite as much interest in today's developments as