Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1900-09-14
TO TREAT FOR PEACE
Imperial Edict Names Ii Hung
Chang and Prince Ching.
THE FORMER is ORDERED TO PEKING,
The United States Government In
forms Chinese Minister That 1t
IL Not Yet Ready to Begin
Negotiations.

forms Chinese Minister That 1t
Is Not Yet Ready to Begin
Negotiations. 4
Washington, Sept. 12-Minister WI
has received a cable dispatch from
Earl Ii Hung Chang, giving an i'm
perial edict, signed by the emperor,
directing him to proceed Immediately
to Picking and there to cooperate with
Prince Ching toward peace negotia-
tions, and a settlement of all war diff
fculties. The edict is dated August
~. Accordingly Ii Hung Chang asks
that the powers cooperate in affording
him personal protection and facilitate
ing his journey. He probably will
leave Shanghai at once, going by sea.
Sir Robert Hart, imperial minister of
customs, has been asked to procure
steamer accommodations for the trip.
Minister WI probably will ask that a
United States gunboat be designated
for Earl LIS use.
Available Ships.
If the United States decides to COM
ply with Ii Hung Changes request,
there are now available for this pur-
pose the g%unboats Nashville and
Princeton, and the battleship Oregon.
The two former vessels are at Shang-
hal and the battleship is at Woosung,
the man-of-war anchorage just below
Shanghai. The cruiser New Orleans
was at Woosung until Monday when
/ cha coS1oI f@~ NNo1-, IL --.1I 49,
been employed for this service to
great advantage owing to her high
speed capacity. 1t is entirely improb-
able that the Oregon. if this govern
ment decides to comply with Earl LIS.
request, would be employed upon such
an errand. The average speed of the
Princeton. and Nashville is about ten
knots and the distance from Shanghai
to Taku is about 73O miles, so that
one of them would require at least six
days to make the run.
Ii Suspicious of Powers.
1t is presumed that Earl Ii has
asked for a United States vessel be-
cause of the rumors that the allied
commanders at Taku had decided to
take him into custody upon his arrival
there. Earl Ii doubtless had informa-
ton that Admiral Remey had dissent
ed from such a programme, and there
fore preferred his request to the
United States government, knowing
that his person would be safe from
seizure if it were covered by the
American flag.
Reply Sent.
Washington, Sept. 12.-The acting
secretary of state has replied to the
edict transmitted Monday by Minister
WI, giving Ii Hung Chang extraor-
binary powers to negotiate for peace.
as follows:
THE United States does not feel called
upon TO express any opinion at this time
as to the suficiency of Ii Hung Chane's
authority. but hopes it will transpire that
his credentials are full and authorftatfve
not only for negotiation, but to enable him
without delay to give assurance that the
lie ana property Of Americans will hence
empire" -.
Net Ready TO Negotiate,
Washington, Sept. 12.-From the
formal statement given out Tuesday
it appears that the state department.
is not yet ready to begin direct nepo-
tiatioHs with Ii Hung Chang. It does
not question his credentials as a paen.
iPotentiary, but simply leaves the mat
ter in abeyanoe. Probably this IS
because all of the powers have not
yet returned their responses 10 the
Russian note, and it h desired 10 avoid
making the United States the first
among the powers to abandon the
hope OF harmonious action and strike
o itself toward the settlement d.
reetly with China. Also it nav be
deemed we'll 10 wait to hear from
Mr.. Conger, who several days ago was
invited to express his opinion about
quitting Peking. Minister WI was
twice at the state department Tues
day. 1t was understood that his first
call was in part, At least, to secure
transportation for LII Hung Chang
from Shanghai to Taku ON a United !
States vessel His later call was to
receive the answer Of the. department |
to that application, ~ we'll as to the
communication respecting Ii Hung
Changes functions. The answer re-
turned BY the state department to the
latter communication apparently
made IT unnecessary at this time to !
pursue the inquiry as to the ship. If
Earl Ii may not enter into nego-
tiations at present there Is no 'occa-
sion to transport him to Taku.
Italy to Negotiate at Once.
London, Sept. IA special dispatch
from Rome says the Italian cabinet has