Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-09
DEMAND ON CHINA
Note by State Department to Chinese
Government.
MODERATE, BUT FIRM IN TONE
Hopeful That Attacks on Legations
Will Cease.
DELAY IN TRANSMISSION

The following note, addressed to the
Chinese government, was posted at the
State Department this morning:
1--WE are availing ourselves of the oppor-
tunity offered by the imperial edict OF the
9th of August allowing to the foreign min
isters free communication with their re-
spective governments in cipher, and have
sent communication to Minister Conger,
to which we await an answer.
I'VE are already advised by him, In
brief dispatch received August 7. that i'm
perial troops are firing daily upon the min
isters in Pekin. We demand the immediate
cessation of hostile attacks by imperial
troops upon the legations, and urge the en-
ercise of every power and energy of the
imperial government for the protection Of
the legations and all foreigners therein.
I'VE are also advised by the same dis
patch from Minister Conger that, In his
opinion, for the foreign ministers to leave
Pekin, as proposed in the edict Of August
2 would be certain death. In view of the
fact that the imperial troops are now firing
upon the legations, and in view of the
doubt expressed by the imperial govern
ment in its edict of August as to Its
power to restore order and secure absolute
safety in Pekin, 1t is evident that this ap-
prehension is well founded, for II your
government cannot protect our minister
in Pekin 1t will presumptively be unable to
protect him upon a journey from Pekin to
the coast.
I'VE therefore urge upon the imperial
government that 1t shall adopt the course
suggested in the third clause of the letter
Of the President to his majesty. the EN-
peror Of China, of July %. 1900. and enter
into communication with the relief expedi-
tion, so that cooperation may be secured
between them for the liberation of the lega-
tions, the protection Of foreigners and the
restoration of order Such action on the
part of the imperial government would be
satisfactory demonstration Of its friendli-
ness and desire to attain those ends.
'(Signed ALVEY A. ADEE,
Acting Secretary"
Department of State, Washington, August
=, 1900"
Meaning of the Note.
The State Department. at 10 o'clock this
morning, made public the text of the above
note addressed to the Chinese government
which was last night delivered by Acting
Secretary Adee to Minister WI for imme-
diate transmission to the authorities at Pc
1'-i'' - - pas''NiN'tiiS u btIildIll lDT COM
plete compliance with the terms of the let
ter of the President to the Emperor of
China. sent July %. 1t acknowledges the
receipt of the Chinese edict. allowing free
communication with the ministers, and prac-
tically serves notice on the imperial author
tiles that their good faith in issuing 1t is
to be tested by a cipher dispatch, which
has been sent to Minister Conger
The Sfifffst of he ie
in the demand for the immediate and com
plete cessation of the attacks of the i'm
perial troops upon the legationers, which
Minister Conger had reported 1t then pro-
ceeds argumentatively to back up the Amer
lean minister's opinion that 1t would be un-
safe for the ministers to leave Pekin under
existing conditions and concludes by urging
the Chinese authorities to adopt the course
originally suggested in the Presidents let
ter OF July %, and place themselves in
communication with the relief expedition
advancing from Tien Tsin, for the purpose
of cooperating to procure the liberation of
the legationers. the protection of the for
eigners in Pekin generally and the restora-
tion of order.
Such action, the note adds, would be
deemed a satisfactory demonstration of the
friendliness of the imperial government
The note is not at all bellicose in tone. and
its temper IS generally commended as the
best method Of using the professed friend
ship Of the imperial authorities to save the
legationers. The demand for the immediate
cessation of the attacks on the legation Is
stern and emphatic, but the word demand
gives way to urge when the imperial
government is requested to place itself in
friendly communication with the advancing
allies.
1t Is pointed out that while we have the
undoubted right to demand that the firing
upon our diplomatic representative cease
TO do more than advise and urge the Chi
nese government to cooperate with the
forces of the powers for the relief Of the
ministers and the restoration of order might
possibly be deemed presumptious and Of
fensive.
Authorities Hopeful.
The authorities here are very hopeful that
the moderation with which this proposftion n
is suggested will give 1t added weight by
affording the Chinese government an op-
portunity to comply without seeming to
yield to a demand A back down in the
face Of a threat, which is always contained
in demand upon a government, might be
much more difficult for the Chinese gov
ernment IN view OF the strong antf-foreign
sentiment which surrounds the court than
an acquiescence in a plan suggested in q
friendly fashion by a friendly power. 1t
furnishes bridge over which the I'M
perial government could retreat, without
too much humiliation and chagrin
The President in his original communica-
ton to the Emperor of China laid down
three conditions, precedent to any action
looking to negotiations for the settlement
of the difficulties between China and the
powers. These conditions in the Presi-
dents own words were as follows:
Il most solemnly urge upon your maies-
tvs government to give public assurance
whether the foreign ministers are alive
and If so in what condition
''2. To put the diplomatic representatives
OF the powers in immediate and free COM
munication with their respective govern
ments. and to remove all dangers to their
lives and liberty.
''3. To place the imperial authorities Of
China in communication with the relief ex-
pedition so that cooperation may be Sc
cured between them for the liberation of
the legations and the protection of for