The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-28
TUAN IN THE WAY
OF NEGOTIATIONS
His Appointment May Disar-
range Our Plans.
IUC E0CE RECkiEn
LIS PLEDGE RECALLED
Will Prince Tuan's Appointment OBJ
struct It's Performance?
Il WAS TO PROTECT OUR INTERESTS
Any Failure 10 Garry Out This Pledge Would
Warrant the Withdrawal Of Conger
From All Relations With the
Chinese Envoys.
Chinese ENJOYS.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, Sept. 27.-Minister
Conger has been advised by the State
Department of the substance of the
replies made by this Government last
Friday to the Governments of Germany,
Russia and China respecting China,
which clearly indicated to HIM the
general nature of the instructions he
is to receive. Moreover, by this time
General Chaffee to reduce his force
to legation guard The note to
China specifically pointed out the lines
on which this Government will issue
its instructions to it's Minister. The
document itself is in course of final
approval, acting Secretary Hill having
completed the draft some days ago
and forwarded it to the President. 1t
was the belief of the State Depart
ment late this afternoon that the ac-
tual transmission of the instructions
would be carried out very soon, prob
ably within the next twelve hours. 1t
is said that he text of the instruc-
tions will not be given publicity at
present for diplomatic reasons, but
there is no concealmen6 of the gen.
eral scope of the document. which is
on the lines laid down in the three
notes. In this connection, it is said
at the State Department that Mr.. Con-
ger will put these negotiations in mo-
tion without any purpose of acting
for any government other than the
United States, although the Govern
ment steadily keeps in mind that the
United States is but one of the several
nations mutually interested in obtain
ing q common end, and it is hoped
that the effect of Mr.. Conger's making
beginning toward negotiations may
he to induce other powers to follow
At the same time the Government has
never assumed to lay down any man
date as to- the course to be followed
by all or any of the other powers.
1t is believed that the State Depart
ment already has taken steps through
Minister WI to impress upon the Chi
nese Government the undesira ability
of the appointment of Prince Tuan as
Grand Secretary and the painful i'm
precision this appointment has created,
throughout this country. The effect
of his appointment, if persisted in,
it is said, might be to retard seriously
the final negotiations, or in fact any
negotiations at all.
The Government feels that it is
much re-enforced in it's present posi-
tion by the note from Iii Hung Chang
in which he gave positive assurance
TO the United States that he had suf-
ficient authority to protect all Ameri-
int nd ~:
authority was exercised. The Govern
ment now looks upon this assurance
as guarantee which must be faith
fully performed as a condition pre-
cedent to even the establishment of
relations with Ii and Prince Ching.
If the appointment of Tuan promises
in any manner to obstruct the per-
formance of this pledge. then it would
be clearly violative of the guarantee
laid down and would warrant the inn
mediate withdrawal of Mr.. Conger
from further relations with the Chi
nese ENJOYS. So it appears that much
more depends upon what Tuan does
than upon what he has done.
TWO OF THE WARsHIPS SAIL
Washington, Sept. 27.-Of the six war
ships which we're last week ordered to
proceed to the Orient to reinforce the
Asiatic SQUADRON, the Albany and the
Wilmington have started on their long
journey. The Albany sailed from Piraeus
yesterday and today the Wilmington left
Montevideo for Bahia, Brazil Thence she
will cross the Atlantic and proceed via
the Mediterranean.
1t was expected that the big battleship
Kentucky would not be delayed beyond
few days in her preparations, but after
going to dry dock at the New York yard
yesterday It was decided to make some |
changes which probably will delay her de- |
parture for three weeks. The principal |
alterations will be made in connection |
with her turret guns. Captain Chester, |
who commands the Kentucky, found that |
after firing, the turret guns ran out too |
quickly and made too great a shock on |
the gun carriages. The Ordnance Bureau, |
therefore decided to put in counter recoil |
checks to remedy this defect.
TROOPS LANDED AT TAKU, 6S,253.
Vienna, Sept. 27.-The Admiralty has !
received a dispatch from Taku giving the |
strength of the forces landed there by |
the allied powers. as follows:
Austrian, 494; German, S.178; British,
1888; American, 5,G0S; French, 500; !