Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-09-13
SECRET CONFERENCE.
Minister WI and Messrs. Hill and
Adee Meet Behind Locked Doors
RESPONSES TO The RUSSIAN NOTE.


Washington, Sept. s.-Mnister WI
arrived in Washington from Cape
May yesterday afternoon and, al
though it was near the close Of the
official day, he proceeded directly to
the state department. 1t is under
stood that he had received an intima-
ton that the department officials were
DESTROYS 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 messengers allowed entrance.
None of the parties to the conference
was communicative as to the confer
encc, but at its conclusion Dr. Hill
repaired to the white house with a
portfolio well filled with papers.
For several hours preceding the
minister's visit Acting Secretary Hill
and Assistant Secretary Adee had
been engaged in short conferences
and il was gathered that the negotia-
tons relative to China were approach
ing another phase and that another
pronouncement of some kind was In
preparation.
The fact is recalled that when the
United States made its response to
the Russian note on the Goth ultmo
the officials here expressed the belief
that about weeks time would be
required to determine upon the next
step and at the end Of that time it
would be definitely known whether
or not the troops were to be with
drawn from Pekn. That period of
time has now elapsed, The reports
from the European chahcellorics indi-
cate that, officially, at least, this i'm
portnnt subject is being treated with
the greatest deliberation and at least
another week, and probably even
more time. may be consumed in franz
ng the last of the answers to the
Russian note,
Meanwhile our government has
pretty well satisfied itself as to the
attitude towards this last PROPOSE
tion Of each and all Of thc powers in
teresed in the Chinese problem. 1t
may he that this knowledge is re-
g0rded IA sufficient upon which to
laso anotb"r forward move, md per-
h0ns in this case an independent
movement by the United States
towards the ultimate Withdrawal 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. WI are
believed 10 hive been inspired by n
desire TO learn something of the per
sonality Of the Chinese notnbles
whose names have been suggested as
proper to constitute the Chinese side
of any commission which may he
named to arrange settlement of the
difficulties. Mr.. WI is an ardent adj
hercnt of Earl Ii.
There is much speculation here as
TO the personnel of the American
commissioners in case the peace nego-
tintions should he entrusted to such
a body and the names OF men promi'
ncnt in international affairs in recent
venrs all have been canvassed. In
cludcd in the list of the name OF Cen
John w. Foster, but il Is regarded as
much more probable that II he APP
pears at all in these negotiations IT
will be in his old place as a represent
ative of the Chinese government lie
was associated with III Hung Chang
during the peace negotiations which
closed the Chino-,Iapanese war, and
IT is said that Earl Ii has a high
sense of appreciation of his work for
China then
There was dearth OF official in
formation from China yesterday
Gen. Chaifee got through a dispatch
dated September I at Pekin, indicat.
inc that couriers are still employed
TO close the telegraph line of com
munication between Ten TSin and
pekin. This dlsnatch made NO men
tion Of the military situation and II
was Inferred that affairs in Pekin re-
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