The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1900-09-08
Answers Have Already Been Dis
counted.
THE SITUATION Is UNCHANGED
Minister WI and Assistant Secretary
Hill Confer-Gen. John w. Fos-
ter May be One of China's
Representatives

washington, September 7.-Minster Wu
arrived in Washington from Cape May
this evening and though it was near the
close of the official day he proceeded di-
rectly to the State Department. 1t is
thought he had received an intimation that
the department officials were desirous of
comforting with him, hence his return to
Washington
For nearly an hour the minister was
closeted with Acting Secretary Hill and
assistant Secretary Adee, the door being
locked meantime and not even the messen-
gers attempted entrance.
None of the parties to the conference
was communicative as to the conference,
but at its conclusion DR.. Hill repaired to
the White House with portfolio well fill
ed with papers.
For several hours preceding the minis
ter,s visit, Acting Secretary Hill and As
sstant Secretary Adee had been engaged
in short conferences and it was gathered
that the negotiations relative to China
were approaching another phase and that
another pronouncement of some kind was
in preparation.
The fact is recalled that when the United
States made its responses to the Russian
note on the goth ultimo., the officials here
expressed the belief that about a weeks
time would be required to determine up
on the next step and at the end of that
time 1t would be definitely known wheth-
er or not the troops were to be withdrawn
from Pekin. That period of time has now
elapsed. The reports from the European
chancellories indicate that officially at
least, this important subject is being
treated with the greatest deliberation and
at least another week and probably even
more time may be consumed in framing the
last of the answers to the Russian note.
May Act Independently
Meanwhile our government has pretty
we'll satisfied itself as to the attitude to-
wards this last proposition Of each and all
of the powers interested in the Chinese
problem. 1t may be that this knowledge is
regarded as sufficient upon which to base
another forward step, and perhaps in this
case an Independent movement by the
United States towards the ultimate with
drawal Of the troops and the settlement
with China, which the government has had
In mind since the beginning of the trouble.
The consultations with Mr.. Wu are be-
lieved to have been inspired by a desire to
learn something of the personality of Chi
nese notables, whose names have been sug-
gested as proper to constitute the Chinese
side OF any commission which may be
named to arrange settlement of the diff
fculties. Mr.. Wu Is an ardent adherent Of
Earl L.
There Is much speculation here as to the
personnel of the American commissioners
in case the peace negotiations should be
entrusted to such body and the names of
men prominent in international affairs in
recent years all have been canvassed. In
cluded In the list Is the name of General
John w. Foster, but 1t Is regarded as much
more probable that II he appears at all in
these negotiations it will be in his old
place as a representative of the Chinese
government. He was associated with Ii
Hung Chang during the peace negotiations
which closed the Chino-Japanese war; and
1t Is said that Earl Ii has high sense of
appreciation of his work for China then.
Little News from China
There was dearth of official information
from China today. General Chaffee got
through a dispatch dated September !, at
Pekin, indicating that couriers are still en-
ployed to close the gap in the line of COM
munication between Tien Tsin and Pe5n.
This dispatch made no mention of the mil
itary situation and It was inferred that
affairs in Pekin remain quiet. The mes
sage was follows:
Copy of cablegram received September 6:
''Taku, Adjutant General, Washington:
Pekin, September 1.-Folowing extract my
report cabled: wish to 80" special Colo
mel Aaron Daggett, 14th u. s. In
fantry for his gallantry at Yang Tsun,
August 6, . '** and good judgment in
the attack on Pekin, August A. and for
gallantry and excellent supervision of the
attack on the gates of the Imperial City,
August Is. l recommend that he be made
brigadier general, U. S. Army. Colonel
Daggett has nine months to serve before
arriving sixty-four. If promoted brigadier
general he will gladly accept retirement
Immediately on promotion.
(Signed) "CHAFFEEn