The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-23
HAS APPEALED TO US
CHINA ASKS MCKINLEY To USE HIS
GOOD OFFICES.
WANTS POWERS PLACATED.
APPEAL For MEDIATION COMES
THROUGH MINISTER WI.

All in Its Power to Protect the For
officials to Protect FOreigners
wherever They Are-POIicy of the
United States.
Washington, July 22.-President McKin-
ley has received what purports to be a
direct appeal from the Chinese imperial
government to use his good Offices to ex-
tricate that government from che difficult
and dangerous position in which it has
been placed as a result of the Boxer up
rising and the ensuing hostile attitude of
the great Powers.
Although the exact text of the appeal
made by the Emperor of China 10 France
as outlined in the cable dispatches of yes
terday has not been made known here
il is believed that the address to the
President is similar in terms TO that COM
muncatio In our case the communica-
tlon was made through Minister WI to
the State Department.
Thus far a final answer has not been
returned. The French government an
swered at once. but that answer will not
serve Us. The United States government
is conscientiously proceeding upon an en-
tirely different line of policy in the treat
ment OF the case. Unfortunately, the
State Department finds itself alone in
this but, nevertheless, ii is convinced
that its plan is the best. and it has be-
hind IL the consoling assurance that at
present all Of the European governments
have tacitiy admitted that an error WAS
made in the beginning in not following
the ccrmon-sense advice of the United
States naval commander at Taku.
The point of difference between the
state department and the European gov
ernments is that the latter are proceeding
upon the belief that all of the foreign
ministers and missionaries and guards at
Pekin have been killed, and insist upon
dealing with the Chinese government
upon that basis, thereby assuming a hos
tile attitude that tends to destroy the
last chance OF availing of whatever
friendly sentiment may yet exist among
1he powerful Chinese viceroys and the
imperial government itself Thus the
French reply, as indicated in the four
conditions laid down by NJ. Delcasse yes
terday sets an impossible task for the
imperial government in it's present straits
and tends 10 drive it at once to make
terms with the Boxers and Prince Tuan's
party.
The American Policy.
On the other hand our government,
while not guaranteeing the truth Of the
advices from the Chinese government as
to the safety of the foreign ministers, is
willing to accept the statements Temporal
rily, in the meantime rem tting none of
It's efforts 10 get access to Mr.. Conger
through the use of military force if need
be.
BY following out this policy the state
department argues that it retains two
chances instead of one. 1t may reach Mr.
Conger with troops and it also may Sc
cure his deliverance through the friendly
Offices of some of the powerful Chinese
officials, which the Powers are not likely
to obtain for their own people by follow
ang out their present policy.
1t may be stated also that the United
States government has not and does no.
intend TO relinquish any part of its claim
for comp tion and reparation in the
ultimate settlement. Its position in that
respect it holds VIII not be affected un-
favorably by prosecuting its efforts to
make use of the friendly sentiments of
the Chinese officials.
A particularly deplorable effect of the
reasoning of the European governments
on this point in the estimation of our
government is the abandonment of the
idea that there is particular need for
haste and for taking even desperate
chances in the effort 10 get the interna-
sional relief column through to Pekin.
May start by Aug. I.
II is true that the latest advices from
Taku indicates that whereas IT was orig
inally estimated by the foreign command
ers that the expedition could not be start
ed before Aug Is, it is now regarded by
them as possible to make a beginning
about Aug. l. But the military experts
here, who have been closely scanning all
the reports from Tien Tsin that appear 10
be worthy of credit feel that even now
the way is open to Pekiu and that the
march should begin with the force at pres
ent on the Pei Ho, leaving the Powers to
bring up reinforcements to reopen the
base, should the first expedition be cut cft
According to the latest official reports
the country around Tien Tsn is clear of
hostile Chinese. The flower of the Chinese
army in that section has been defeated at
lien Tsin, and these army experts calcu-
late that its power is so broken that that
particular army never can be reorganized
N season to offer formidable resistance
90 they argue that the time is ripe for
stroke of bold generalship, such for in
STANCE as French's ride to Kimberley.
Mistake of Commanders.
further proof of an official character Of
mistake made by foreign commanders IN
'he attack upon the Taku forts is con-
"ined in a communication just received
Oy The State Department from United
states Consul Fowler at Che Foo. He
mas transmitted an imperial edict which
"ss supplied to him by telegraph by the
Chi7cse Governor of Shan Tung, Yuan
Sh'h kai, at Tsi Nan. the capital Of the
province. 1t was issued on July II and
-e'a'es to the present hostilities between
NHlna and the foreign Powers The dis