The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-10

urge the exercise of every power and
energy of the imperial government for
the protection of the legations and all
foreigners therein.
We 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 Aug. 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 gov
ernment in its edict of Aug. 2 as to its
power to restore order and secure absolute
safety in Pekin, it is evident that this ap-
prehension is we'll founded, for if your
government cannot protect our minister
in Pekin, it will presumptiveIy be unable
to protect him upon journey from Pekin
to the coast.
Urged to Join in Relief.
We therefore urge upon the imperial
government that it shall adopt the course
suggested in the third clause of the let
ter of the President to his majesty the
Emperor of China on July %, 1900, and
enter into communication with the relief
expedition so that cooperation may. be
secured between them for the liberation
of the legations, the protection of foreign
ers and the restoration of order Such
action ON the part of the imperial govern
ment would be a satisfactory demonstra-
ton of its friendliness and desire to at
tam these ends. Alvey A Adee,
Acting Secretary
Department of State, Washington,
Aug. 9, 1900"
Minister WI worked assiduously on the
message during to-day, translating it first
from English TO Chinese and then from
Chinese into the cipher code of China
Owing to the gravity of the document,
this work required scrupulous exactness
but 1t is probable that it is by this time
on its way to the. Chinese government.
The various foreign representatives in
the city showed keen interest in this
latest move by the United States and call
ed at the Safe Department to inquire con-
cerning it. They were furnished copies
of the demand and in an informal manner
expressed their approval of what had been
done. This action by the United States
was taken solely on its own responsibility,
without consulting other Powers as to The
advisability of the demand
Differs From an UItimatum.
The use of the word demand" in the
American note thoroughly indicates the
urgency of the message. In the technical
parlance of diplomacy it differs from an
ultimatum which usually fixes a date or
sets a time within which there must be
compliance, the lack of compliance dur
! ing the stated time being a ground for
war. While a demand is less specific as
to time of compliance. it none the less
asserts a positive right which the gov
ernment will enforce if the right be not
conceded. =.
Owing TO the difficulties of communica-
ton with Pekin, it is expected that some
days must elapse before an answer can
be received and there is disposition to
grant all reasonable time for this trans
mission.
British Troops at Shanghai.
Late in the day the state department. re-
General Goodnow at Shanghai, announc-
ing the landing of British troops at that
point. The Consul General did not state
that he had protested against this action,
and the state department judged from this
that no protest would have been made
by him in the absence of Instructions He
stated, however, that the merchants of
the city strongly disapproved the landing
of the British troops, fearing that it would
incite the anti-foreign Chinese to hostili-
ties
The government at Washington has
taken no action in the nature of pro-
test, and il is stated officially that no
such action will be taken. On the con-
trary the United States government rec
ognizes the right of any power
70 protect its citizens or their
interests when they are supposed
to be in jeopardy. AS indicative of this
policy it is stated in the highest official
quarter that if the United States citizens
at Annoy, China, were reported to be in
danger. this government would maintain
its right promptly to send an armed force
for their protection. This right of protec-
tion claimed by the United States is con-
ceded to be open 10 al Powers alike.
At the same time the state department
recognizes that there is a question of
wisdom involved in this particular land
ing of troops AS to whether our govern
ment would express any doubt upon the
wisdom of the movement the officials de-
cline positively to say.
situation Much Improved.
Secretary Root regards the situation
both from a military and diplomatic point
of view as much improved. The promise
OF cipher communication with the minis
ters in Pekin, together with the advance
of the international forces toward that
city is believed to have correlative signf-
cance 1t is also believed that the resist
ance made by the Chinese has not been
and will not be as great as anticipated by
some authorities who said that the Chi
nese force consisted of the best of their
army.
The movement on Yang Tsun is in ac-
cordance with information contained in
the dispatch from Gen. Chaffee, which
was rot made public, and also in a dis
patch which was made public after Pei
| Tsang had been taken.
1t is the expectation of the officials OF