Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-16
FOR AN ARMISTICE
Telegram Sent to Gen. Chafee This
Afternoon.
MAY HALT At GATES OF PBKIN
Ministers to Say Where They
Could Be Safely Received.
Ii HUNG CHANG NOTIFIED

ternoon a telegram was sent to Gen.
Chaffee relative to the proposition OF
Ii Hung Chang, A message was
likewise sent to the Chinese sage
who is conducting the negotiations
with the European and American
powers. giving the contents OF the
message to Chaffee. The telegram to
Gen. Chaffee directed him to agree
upon an armistice if the Americans
felt sure that they would be safely
delivered to the American force in or
near Pekin. Ii the armistice is agreed
to it will provide for the safe delivery
OF the Americans and other foreign
ers at an outer or inner gate OF Pc
kin, The inner gate is situated near
the British legation. Without Min
lister Conger and the other repre-
sentatives believe they would be safe
in thus being handed over to. their
friends. Gen. Chaffce will nos con-
sent to an armisticc and will urge the
entry OF the army into Pekin.
No Halt at Tung Chow.
The United States government has ahso-
lutrly declined To aCCede to the appeal of
Lii Hung Chang that the allied armies halt
al Tung Chow to negotiate for an armis-
tice, the American government standing
firmly on its position taken the Prssi-
dents letter to the Emperor Cf China md
in the subsequent memoranduEns submitted
by the State Department.
The appeal Of Ii Hung Chang was sub
mitted to the State Department this Inorn-
ing by the Chinese minister. Mt- Nu Ting
Fang II was promptly communicated to
the President.
Another Dispatch Frop, Couger.
The Chinese minister also brought an
other long cipher cable message from Min
lister COnger. which was transmitted to
the State Department. As soon as de-
ciphered 1t was also laid before the Presi-
dent. The Conger message was the first
one from the minister showing that he had
received the official dispatches sent to him
from Washington 1t gave the names of
the marines who We're killed in defending
the legation, but otherwise did not ma
terially change the situation. About the
same time the Navy Department received
a dispatch from Admiral Remey, stating
that, while he was without direct advices
from Cen Chaffee Yet that he learned from
japanese sources that Tung Chow had been
taken, and that the attack on Pekin was
expected 10 occur yesterday. These sew
eral messages formed the main features of
the cabinet deliberation which followed
soon after.
LII Hung Chang'a Appeal.
Ii Hung Changs appeal for a halt and
the declination Of the United States formed
the most important features of the day.
The appeal Of the venerable Chinese states
man was almost pathetic in tone. showing
the desperate straits to which China had
been driven.
He stated that the allied forces were
nearing Tung Chow. He had, therefore
Hemorialized the imperial government to
name an envoy. with authority to negotiate
an armistce with the military command
ers in the field That the powers should
accede to this course was most earnestly
requested. and Earl Ii asked that the sew
eral powers telegraph their respective conn
manders Instructions that after arriving at
Tung Chow with their forces they stop
their further advance on Pekin. The lam
guage Of the message showed the greatest
solic.tude that the United States and the
other powers accept this proposition. Ii
Hung Chang declared that d further ad-
vance would shake the foundations of the
Chinese empire besides causing the deep
-; alarm To the emperor and empress dow
ager and calamities to the people.
Could Not Afford to Halt
Naturally an appeal Of this earnestness
received the most careful attention from
the President and his advisors. But it was
declared that with the present critical sit
uaticn Of the ministers in Pek!n the Amer
lean government could not afford to halt
now and begin course of temporizing and
negotiating under the slow methods of Chi
nese diplomacy ON the contrary, the United
States having already taken its firm stand,
and that stand having been completely ap-
proved by all the great powers. ii was felt
that the only course open was to push
steadily forward in the execution of that
policy Aside from this general policy it
was believed by the War Department that
with the inadequate cable facilities and
the great delay of getting through a mes
sage To General Chaffee. il would be ex-
tremely difficult, II not impossible to get
through instructions to halt at Tung Chow
General Chaffee and the other military
commanders have ample authority to treat
with any ENJOYS who may be sent out by
the Chinese government, and If they con-
slider that the military situation requires a
halt they are in position TO consider pro-
posals- But the American government, II
is declared will give no instructions to that
effect.
The Attack Pekin.
The following bulletin was posted at the
Navy Department this morning:
TAKU, August 1J 1900
Bureau Of Navigation. Washington:
Front unheard from since 11th Lieuten-
hns Latimer is on Chaffee's staff expressly
TO furnish me authentic information. Latest
reports through japanese sources, allies
occupied Tung Chow 18th; would attack
Pekin today. REMEY"
Admiral Remey's dispatch tailed with
the press advices from Toxic on the occu-
patton of Tung Chow. But ii went further
and was the first official indication that
the actual assault on Pekin had been ex-
pected on the 18th yesterday. II this ex-
pectatfon has been realized. 1t will, of
course, be futile to consider proposals of