Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-08-27

Washington, Aug 22-The cabinet
session yesterday practically opened
the consideration of the momentous
questions growing out of the capture of
Pekin and the war in China. Hitherto
the absorbing question has. been the
safety of Minister Conger and the le-
sgationers in Pekin. Now, however,
that has given place to problems of
more intricate and far-reaching char
acter, touching the very existence Of
the Chinese empire and the part which
the American government is to take in
the reconstruction of that country
The meeting was devoted entirely to
the Chinese situation. Secretaries
Hay and Root, who have been most
active in directing affairs, we're absent
from the city, so that the attendance
was comparatively small, the president
having with him Secretaries Gage,
Hitchcock, Wilson and Postmaster
General Chas. Emory Smith.
Several questions were awaiting at
tention. The first of these was the
application of Ii Hung Chang for the
some other commissioner to negotiate
for a cessation of hostili-
ties. The decision arrived at
was to reject the appeal,
and a reply of this character will be
sent to Minister WI to be forwarded to
for this action was that this govern
ment at present is very much in the
dark as to whether there is any exist
ing government in China With the
capital in the hands of the allies, the
emperor and empress dowager fugi-
tives in hiding, and the governmental
fabric paralyzed, there is no evidence
of authority adequate to conduct nego-
tiatiOns and secure results which
would be final and binding. 1t was
stated by member of the cabinet that
the Chinese establishment, instead of
being a government, appears to be an
enormous, headless affair, without
knowledge of what is for it's best good,
and without power to enforce it's
wishes. With its recognized ruler in
flight, no one seems to know who, if
any body, is directing it's affairs. AS
China is absolutely a monarchy, with
out any legislative branch, the emperor
and empress dowager are all-powerful;
practically they are the empire of
China Under the present remarkable
conditions, the United States will act
with extreme caution in whatever steps
ii may take toward solution of the
pending problems.
In the meantime there is reason to
believe the United States and all other
powers interested will keep their
armed forces on the ground so that
order may be maintained, and at least
a semblance of a stable government
brought out of the existing chaos. The
reply of this government to the appeal
of the viceroys of Marking and Human
that no indignities be offered the en-
peror and empress diowager, is formal
acknowledgment of the receipt Of the
communication with satisfactory as
surance that no indignities will be Of
fered to their majesties. This reply is
couched in terms Of the polite
language Of diplomacy, but
it is understood it does not in any
way commit the government to refrain
from imposing on the emperor and
empress dowager any penalty that sub
sequently might be decided upon in
case it is proved that they were di-
rectly responsible for the recent atroc-
tiles. This question of fixing the re-
sponsibility where it belongs and i'm
posing punishment that may be
deemed fitting has not received formal
consideration as yet. The answer with
which the two viceroys' appeal is met
accordingly is diplomatic assurance
that the rights Of the emperor and en-
press doWager will be protected, and
does not impose any barrier to proper
punishment, such as may be sane
toned by civilized usage, for any Of
tense which hereafter may be held to
call for an accounting. This is the in
depreciation given the reply by a cab
met official last night. The question
of responsibility will have to be
worked out slowly.