The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-09-11
Ii HUNG TO TREAT.
Appointed by Chinese Government
with Absolute authority.

Washington, September h10--The Chi
nese minister Mr.. Wa Ting Fang, to-
day delivered to the state department an
imperial edict comforting Oh Ii Hung
Chang absolute and unconditional au-
thority to negotiate with the powers for
peace and for the settlement OF questions
growing out of the war. The edict IS dat
ed on the last day of the seventh moon,
Chinese calendar, which Is about Au-
gust "a.
1t IS issued by the Emperor and not
the Empress Dowager, Indicating that
the former is now exercising those 1mpe-
rial functions which some OF the powers,
notably, Great Britain, have insisted be-
longed to him, rather than to the En-
press Dowager.
Tie document does not show the place
at which it was issued, but 1t was trans
mitted through Pao Ting Flu and prob
ably emanated there, as the Imperial
household has been at that point for some
time.
An extended conference was held be-
tween Mr.. Hill and Minister WI, con-
corning the extensive authority with
which Ii Hung Chang is now invested
The edict makes him the sole negot1ator
on the part of China, giving him d1scre-
tlon to act finally and in manner TO
bind China without interference from
the Emperor.
z The edict is prior to the request sent
by Ii Hung Chang to the throne that the
viceroys of Nank1n and Wa Chang and
Prince Ching be included with him as
negotiators.
This request has not yet been respond
ed to BY the throne so far as the Chinese
minister here is advised, but If Earl Lbs
request is granted, there is no doubt IL
will carry the same absolute authority
with which Lii Hung Chang has now
been invested.
Minister WI says the authority is so
oompIete as to remove any possible ques-
ton as to the sutficiency of the creden-
tials.
General Chafee's despatch received
this morning is in line with that OHIO
err former declarations respecting the al
visibility of withdrawing the American
troops from Pekin, and undoubtedly
will cause the government to increase 16s
efforts to effect some sort OF settlement
that viii permit of an early withdrawal
from China. -
The conditions reported by Chaffee ap-
pear to warrant she conclusion that MT
Conger will speedily leave Pek1n Tor one
of the ports on the coast where he can act
more effectively and that the United
States troops will not respond to the Ger
man invitation to make further olIer
in the campaign outside of Pekin. 1t Is
believed that the objects that remain TO
I
further military operations so far as Une
United States troops are concerned
Baron Sternberg, the German charge'
had q talk with Secretary Hill this morn
ing but it led to no material change IN
the situation. 1t is understood that
Count Won Walderseeswill arrive at Hong
Kong, go thence to Shanghai,and then to
lien Tsin, which VIII be his military
base. He is due at Hong Kong about
the end of this week, and at Shanghai
three days later.
CHAFFEE CABLES.
Washington, September 1O.-The fol-
lowing despatch has been received at the
war department.:
"Taku (no date.)
'Adjutant General, Washington:
''The afternoon, fourth. Evidence @ac-
cumulates that diplomatic relations will
not be resumed here for long time
Russian legation leaves very soon for lien
Tsin. Appears to me certain Chinese
government will not return here whilst
foreign army remains, and If this is true,
orr legation can transact no business.
MY opinion Pekin to be merely camp for
foreign army pending settlement by
powers at other points.
(SigoedQ "Cha1ee'