The evening times., 1900-09-12


State, today handed to Minister Wu the
Governments answe. to the messages for
werded by Ii Hung Chang asking that he
be given an escort of American troops TO
Pekin, and that he be protected, in his
capacity as envoy extra ordinary from in
reference by any OF the allied powers.
The messages were handed to Acting Sec
retary Hill by the Chinese Minister yes
terday and definite reply was promised
this morning.
In the answer this Government pledg-
es itself TO furnish Earl Ii suitable cs-
eort TO Pekin, and agrees to sae that ne
is not moIested In any way by repre-
sentatives of the other powers. Il is
further stated that General Chaf1ee will
be instructed to care for the safety OF
the Chinese statesman during his stay in
the Imperial City. and that the United
States will use its good Offices 10 bring
about an agreement among the powers
whereby Earl Ii mag treat with them
and secure some speedy settlement II af-
fairs.
The request and reply, as hulletined by
the State Department, are as follows:
i
handed to acting Secretar1 H5n On
September II ~ the Chinese Minis
ter:
lCablegram rom Earl Ii Hung Chang dated
September O. 1900, Transmitted ty the
Chinese Minister at LONDON under date
Of September 10, and received by Mr..
Wa On night Of last named d@te-I
Il have Just received telegram,
dated September s, from the Governor
OF Shantung, transmitting a despatch
addressed to me by the PTivy Council
from Ta-Fnng (Shansil on August 80.
= The Privy Council to Ii Hung
Chang, Envoy PlenipoteRtiary, Grand
Secretary Of State, and Yiceroy Of
Chilli:
. On the Cd day Of the 9Th moon of
Kwang- Hsu. 26th year (AugIst % The
following imperial edict was issued.
We hereby command Ii Hung
Chang, Envoy Plenipotentiary, with
full discretionary powers, and Grand
Secretary of State. TO proceed at once
by steam vessel 10 Pekin. and there
to associate himself with Prince Ching
In discussing anu dealing with all
penang questions Let there be no
delay. Respect this.
The above has been communicated
to HE in obedience 70 the Imperial
will
Au0tnef message TIE iflpC-
rial Council states that an edtct has
been issued commanding Sir Robert
Hart to confer with the foreign nations
for the loan of q steam vessel TO con-
yey Ii Hung Chang without delay 10
Pekin where he is TO associate himself
with Prince Ching in dealing With all
pending questions. There was also a
copy OF an edict for Ii Hung Chang
in which Sir Robert Hart was directed
to depute an official to deliver in per-
son 20 Earl Ii The documents re-
ferred 10 have been gent by post. but
owing to the roundabout method
employed and fearing mistake or
failure might arise, the edicts aTo
Transcribed las aboyel. On receipt of
the same the Shantung Government is
requested 70 transmit them by tele-
graph to Ear! Lii.
Having reeeiged imperial orders
urging my speedy departure for the
north, Il oehooves me to make arrange
ulentS TO start on my journey soon.
Please inform the Secretary OF State
and request instructions be teIegra phed
to the United States commanders at
Tientsin and Pekin to cooperate in
affordiIg me protection, if required
To the above message Acting Eecre-
tary Hill has handed Mr. Wu the fol-
lowing reply:
TN reply to the request of Earl
Il that Instructions he teIegraphad
to thef NJnited States commanders
at Tientsin and Pekin TO cooperate
in aRording him protection If Ie-
quiTed on his journey TO Pekin. the
United States Government, SO far as
its own forces are concerned, will be
happy TO facilitate in every proper
way the journey OF Earl Ii 10 Pe!tiR,
and will SO instruct its commando
ers.''
Minister WI is much pleased with the
reply of the United States and believes
that the action taken will enable ncgo-
tiations TO proceed within a few weeks.
No word was received from any of the
American officials in China during the