Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-13
Promises That American Life and
Property Will Be Respected.
REPLY SENT TO THE PRESIDENT
Withdrawal of Our Troops From
Pekin.
A w ATTN G. TIL f ORD F. r S

The Chinese government has made swift
answer to the latest communication from
| the State Department relative to the rec
! ognition of Lii Hung Chang as an envoy
| competent to negotiate a settlement. 1t is
now for the United States government 10
make the next step. There has never been
| any doubt here as to the sufticiency of LIS
credentials as plenipotentiary. but the
! effort of the State Department has been to
cause him to use any extraordinary powers
he might have for the protection of Ameri-
can life and property In China, pending
final settlement 1t has succeeded in at
tanning this object. as is indicated in the
response from Ii Hung Chang, presented
to Assistant Secretary Hill this morning by
Minister Wu. The department asked Ii,
without further delay, to give assurance
that the life and property of Americans
will henceforth be respected throughout
the Chinese empire.
Accepts the Challenges.
The viceroy has accepted this challenge,
and has given the assurance asked for. His
word came in the shape of a cable dispatch
to Minister WI, dated yesterday, at Shang-
hal. Mr.. WI called at the State Depart
ment the first thing this morning, and pre-
sented this answer to DR.. Hill. He, in
turn, sent it forward to the President. 1t
will be for the latter to decide whether LIS
assurance is sufficient to meet the needs of
the case, and if so, the way would seem Ia
be clear for the opening of negotiations for
a settlement.
Some thought has been given to the best
means of conducting such negotiations. and
the conclusion is that Ii would be much bet
ter to have the Chinese commissioners con-
fronted by a joint international commits
sion, rather than to have each nation In
terested in the settlement prosecute Its own
claims independently. In the latter case II
fS tod hot thoy2 ha f}f
crepancy between the amounts claimed as
indemnity for precisely similar offenses
committed against the citizens of the vari-
Gus nations.
Also, when 1t comes to securing guaran-
tees for the payment OF these indemnities,
such perhaps as the assignment 10 the
claimant nation of liens upon certain reve-
| nues of thr chinese government, there may
be clashes that will seriously affect the
| negotiations. On the whole it is believed
that if the powers can get together them
| selves and through their own commission
ers arrange for certain common bases OF
compensation for certain classes of out
RACES better progress can be made toward
a final settlement. However, If the attempt
to secure unity of action in that direction is
no more successful than that directed 10
the evacuation Of Pekin, the United States
government will look to its own interests
and, appointing its own commissioners pro-
ceed to deal directly with the Chinese COM
miSSionerS.
Warship Not Asked For.
1t is believed here that Ii Hung Chang
has already been advised by Prince Ching
OF the urgent necessity for his attendance
In Pekin to initiate the negotiations, hence
his announced intention 10 sail tomorrow
from Shanghai for the capital Minister
Wa made no application this morning for
a United States warship t" convey the
Chinese envoy, and in view of his az
ncunced departure tomorrow, ii is assumed
that other arrangements have already been
perfected for his conveyance.
Ii Hung Chang Will probably consume Il
full week in the voyage from Shanghai 10
Pekn, for even if his movements are not
interfered with by the military, his physl-
cal condition and great age would make Il
impossible for him to travel quickly when
it comes to the overland part of the trip.
Withdrawal of the Troops.
The question of Withdrawing the Ameri-
can troops at once from Pekin IS be-
fore the President and a speedy decision
is expected. There are differences among
United States officials I'm Pekin this
subject, and the issue is for the President
to decide The action of the French gov
ernment as reported by cable diSpa tches in
joining Russia in orders for the withdrawal
of troops has brought about the contin-
gency touched upon in the reply to Russia
in the following language:
The result of these cons Si1erationS is that
unless there is such general expression
by the powers in favoring of continued oc-
cupatfon to modify the views expressed
by the government of Russia and lead to
general agreement for continued occupa-
ton we shall give Instructions 10 The COM
mander OF the American forces in china -
withdraw our troops from Pekin after dus
conference with the other commanders as 10
time and manner Of withdrawal.
General Chaffee was made acquainted
with the attitude OF the government7and
was directed TO hold himself in readiness
to withdraw his troops Undoubtedly he
has conferred with the other commanders
as to the time and manner of withdraw
according to the terms of the note.
The sending of further supplies tc him
has been stopped and he now awaits but
the signal from Washington to begin his
movement to the coast. 1t .s for the Presl-
dent TO give that signal