Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-01
THE Plan FINDS MUCH FAVOR
continued From First Page

this point, her last communication re-
hating entirely to the matter Of Ii Hung
Chang's status.
The full text of the French govern
ment's answer to Lii Hung Chang's
peace proposals of August 10 and II
has just been received here. 1t proves
to be almost identical in language with
the reply of the American government,
which laid down as preliminary to
peace overtures that security in the
Chinese capitol and responsible gov
eminent authority be established.
1t has developed in the course of the
careful consideration which officials
have given Lii Hung Ohang's creden-
tials unat they were issued by the En-
press Dowager and not by the En-
peror, Kwang Tsu. This may have
an important bearing on the subject,
as it opens up the authority OF the
Empress Dowager since the coup de
etat OF Septembr 8, 1898, when she
took the reins OF power from the hands
OF the Emperor. 1t involves also the
issues between the Empress Dowaser.
who is anti-foreign, and the Emperor.
who is pro-foreign. Still a further
consideration is the Russian syInpa-
thies held by the Emperor Thus far,
however. there has been no question
OF the CREDENTIALS or any OF the per-
sonal grounds mentioned, although
they are forcible in shaping the action
of the several powers.
Although the exact whereabouts OF Ii
Hung Chang continue to be In DOUBT, IL
is the understanding in diplomatic circles
that he is now in continuous commuhi-
cation with the imperial household ana
thus is enabled to convey to them the
prospect of a return to the Chinese capt.
tall The expected return of Prince Ching
to Pekin is said TO be result or TINS COM
munication between Earl Ii ana the I'M
perial family and to be the initial move
of responsible authorizes toward the cap
ital. There is reason to believe also that
Earl Ii is now in frequent Geographic cor
respondence with European capitals, al
though Washington has not received
word from him since August /, the date
of the last appeal for peace. Some sig
nificance is attached to this, as indicat-
ing that Earl Ii, failing to get from
Washington an acceptance OF his over
lures turned to Europe, and more particu-
larly to Russia
1t was stated to-day as an additional
reason for American acceptance OF Ii
Hung Chang, that his. confidential secre-
tary and adviser Is an American, Mr.. Pc
thick, formerly of the American consular
service at Tien Tsin. Mr.. Pethtck is
known to have great influence with the
viceroy, and among the officials here, he
is regarded as a man of exceptional abii-
ity and scrupulous integrity.
The dispotision to look for Interior mo-
tives in Russia's plans 1t met by the state
ment, in authoritative quarters. that such
suspicious show a lack of familiarity with
Russia's traditional friendship with Chi
ma. 1t is pointed out that the two coun-
tries have lived as neighbors since l64i,
and that their relations have not been as
traders pushing commercial enterprises
into the territory of the other, but as Dor
der friends. 1t is said this brought about
the agreement over the Trans-Siberian
railroad. " III eh while beneficial to Russia.
also helped China to develop the resources
cf Manchuria. In seeking CONCESSIONS
also, IL is said that Russia never has per-
mit:ed her citizens to acquire rich rail
road and minel al concessions. and then to
sell them in speculative markets. This
unselfish and neighborly sentiment it is
maintained, is the chief motive for Rus
sia's present course.