The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-22
CONFERRED ON CHINA
CABINET CONSIDERED QUESTIONS
OF POLICY.
REJECTED EARL LIS APPEAL
DOUBTFUL IF THERE IS NOW A CHI
NEsE GOVERNMENT.

Forces on the Ground to Insure a
SembIance of Stable Government
No Indignities to Their Majesties.
They May BE Punished, However,
if Responsible for Atrocities-Mes-
sage From COnger.
Washington, Aug. 21.-The cabinet ses-
sion to-day practically opened the con-
sideration of the momentous questions
growing out of the capture of Pekin and
the war in China. Until to-day's session
the absorbing question has been the safety
of Minister Conger and the legationers at
Pekin. Now, however, that has given
place to problems of a more intricate and
far-reaching character. touching the very
existence of the Chinese empire and the
part which the American government is
10 take in the reconstruction of that
country.
The meeting to-day was devoted entirely
TO the Chinese situation. Secretaries Root
and Hay, who have been most active in
directing affairs, were absent from the
city so that the attendance comparative
ly was small the President having with
him Secretaries Gage, Hitchcock, Wilson
and Postmaster General Charles Emory
Smith.
Question Before the Cabinet
Several questions were awaiting atten-
ton. First of these was the application
OF Ii Hung Chang for the appointment
Of Minister Conger or some other commits
soner to negotiate for the cessation of
hostilities. The decision arrived at was
10 reject this appeal, and a reply of this
character will be sent to Minister WI to
be forwarded to Ii Hung Chang. The
moving cause for this action is that this
government is al present very much in
the dark as to whether there is any ex-
sting government in China. With the
capital in the hands of the allies, the EN-
peror and Empress Dowager fugitives in
hiding and the entire governmental fabric
paralyzed, there is no evidence of an au-
tAority adequate to conduct negotiations
and secure results which will be final and
binding.
II was stated by members of the cabi-
net that the Chinese establishment in
stead of being a government, appears 10
be an enormous, headless affair, with
out knc wledge of what is for its best
Cd and without power to enforce its
hes. With th= recognized rulers in
hl2ht no one seems to know who, if any
body, is dire ting it's affairs
AS China is an absolute monarchy.
wit out any | gislative branch, the EN-
peror and Emp, ess Dowager are all pow
'rtul, and practically hey are the EN-
Plie of China. Under the presen. re.
markable conditions, the United States
VII. act with extreme caution in what
ever steps it may take toward a solu-
non of the pend ng problems In the
meantime there is reason to believe that
Uni.ed States and all the other DOW
ers interested will keep their armed
forces on the ground so that order may
be main aimed and at least a semblance
Of stable government brought out of the
existing chaos
No Promise of immunity
The reply of this government to the ap-
peal of the viceroys of Nan King and
Human, that no indignities be offered the
Emperor and Empress Dowager. is a for
NAL acknowledgment of the receipt of the
communication with a satisfactory assur-
ance that no indignities would be offered
the persons of their majesties This re-
ply is couched in the polite language of
diplomacy, but il is understood that it
does not in any way commit the govern
ment to refrain from imposing on the EN-
peror and Empress Dowager any penalty
thai EnbeeOnepfix fCb he
in case il is proved that they were Ill
rectly responsible for the recent atrocities.
This question of fixing responsibility
where it belongs and imposing any punish
ment that may be deemed fitting has not
received formal consideration as yet. The
answer to the two viceroys, ap
pea accordingly is a diplomatic as
surance that the rights of the Emperor
and Empress Dowager will be protected,
but does not impose any barrier to
proper punishment, such as may be sane
toned by civilized usage, for any offense
which hereafter may be held to call for
an accounting. This is the Interpretation
night. The question of responsibility will
nave to be worked out slowly.
A Dispatch From COnger.
The cabinet had before 1t a message
rom Minister Conger received last night.
After the meeting the state department
made public portions of the dispatch, as
ollows:
United States Legation. Pekin (No
late. via Che Foo Aug. 2o.-To Secretary
State, Washington-Saved Relief arrived
o-day. Entered city with little trouble.
Do not yet know where imperial family
5. Except deaths already reported al
Americans alive and we'll Desperate eI-
orts made last night to extermiuate US.
Mitchell, American soldier and a Russian
md japanese wounded, German Killed.
Advise Woodward, Chicago; Conger, Des
Moines; Sims, Council Bluffs; Conger,
Fasadena; Porter, Paris
"Conger by Fowler, Che Foo,
Il will be observed that the portions
given out are extracts from Minister Con-
Iers message. 1t was stated that these
portions cover such features as the gov
irnment desires to make public at TINS
lme. The entire message was before the
isbiuet and the portion not given out
doubtless refers 70 the questions OF policy
md TO Chinese internal affairs, upon
Which the minister speaks as the adviser
the government rather than as the me-
uum OF communicating actual occur
ences.