The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-13


potentiary. TO propose cessation of hos
tile demonstrations and negotiate with the
Fowers' copy of which was delivered
by Mr.. WI to the Acting Secretary of
State this Sunday morning at 1880
o'clock
An imperial edict forwarded by the
privy council at Pekin under date Of the
l4tA day of the seventh moon aug. 81 to
Gov. Yuan at Tsi Nan, Shan Tung, who
transmitted it on the 18th day of the same
moon (Aug. 1D 10 the Tao Tai at Shanghai
by whom it was transmitted to Minister
WI. who received it on the night of the
same day (Aug. IL.
The imperial edict as transmitted by
the privy council is as follows:
In the present conflict between Chi
nese and foreigners there has been some
misunderstanding on the part of foreign
nations and also a want of proper man
agement on the part of some of the local
authorities. clash of arms is followed
oy calamitous results and causes a rup-
ture of friendly relations, which will ul-
tlmately do no good to the world.
We hereby appoint Lii Hung Chang
as our envoy plenipotentiary, with in
structions TO propose at once by telegraph
to the governments of the several Pow
ers concerned for the immediate cessation
of hostile demonstrations pending negotia-
tions, which he is hereby authorized to
conduct for our part, for the settlement
of whatever questions may have to be
dealt with. The questions are to be sew
orally considered in a satisfactory man
ner and the result of the negotiations re-
ported to us for our sanction. Respect
this
The above is respectfully copied for
transmission TO Your Excellency, to be
communicated to the Secretary of State
Tor His EXcellency's information"
Demands Must First BE Met.
While it is conceded by the Washington
officials that the conference of plenary
authority upon Earl Lii to negotiate with
the Powers for a settlement of existing
troubles is a step in the right direction,
1t by no means is assured that the Unit
ed States government will consent Off
hand to open negotiations with the dis
tlnguished Viceroy. The demands of this
government upon China have been made
plainly and without equivocation. They
cannot be misunderstood. Assuming that
the Chinese government is acting in good
faith, the demands are reasonable and
can be complied with readily.
AS transmitted to the imperial govern
mcnt by the acting secretary of state,
through Minister WI, the demands, in
brief, were:
That the Chinese government give as
surance that the foreign ministers are
alive, and if so, in what condition.
That the ministers be placed in free
communication with their governments,
firing upon the legations cease. and all
dangers to their lives and liberty be re-
moved.
That the imperial authorities place
themselves in communication with the re-
lief expedition. so that the legationers
may be liberated, foreigners protected
and order restored
Until these demands have been acceded
to, it is regarded as highly improbable
that the government of the United States
or any of the European governments, all
of which have made practically the same
demands upon China, will consent TO a
cessation of hostile demonstrations,
which are being conducted. at least, so
far as this government is concerned, with
the sole purpose of succoring the besieged
legationers in the Chinese capital
officials Not Optimistic.
Minister WI is inclined to take an op-
be said authoritatively that his vew not
shared in fully by the Washington Off
cials. There is no disposition evident to-
day 90 abate by one single jot the de-
mands which have been made upon China.
A strong hope is expressed. however, that
the Chinese government will accede to the
demands eventually, and perhaps very
soon. This hope is based upon the edict
appointing Earl Ii to sue for peace. To
this extent, it may be said the view of
the officials here is optimistic.
No reply, az least no direct reply, has
been received to the memorandum trans
mitted to the Chinese government through
OIllSteu w u ny tllG lCSpdIlHlttEl VI Otdte
1t may be that the imperative demands
contained in the memorandum induced the
PRONUNCIATION Of the edict delivered to this
government to-day, but the edict in itself
is not accepted as reply to those de-
mands.
The attitude assumed by the diplomatic
representatives of European governments
in Washington is sufficient evidence that
the Powers will press vigorously the de-
mands which they have made upon the
Chinese government. To Pekin the al
lied armies will go. 1t is declared frankly.
unless every demand is acceded to and all
possible reparation is made by China for
the outrages already committed. Nego-
tiations looking to any other settlement
of the disturbance in China will not be
considered seriously.
Conger snys He Will Hold Out.
During the day the War Department Of
ficials awaited anxiously additional news
from Gen. Chaffee. One dispatch was
received from him, transmitting a mes
sage he had received from Minister Con-
ger. Evidently the message had been de-
layed long in reaching him, and his own
dispatch was dated four days ago. The