The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-08-22
AMERICAN FLAG ON WALL
PLANTED SIDE OF RUSSIAN BAN-
 NER AT PEKIN,S INNER CITY.

ation and Possible Partition-CongeI
 Reports Desperate Attomrs Made ts
 Exterminate Legationers
 Washington, Aug. 21.-The cabine
 session to-day practically opened the
 consideration of the momentous ques-
 tionS growing out of the capture o1
 Pekin and the war in China. Until to-
 days session the absorbing question
 has been the salty of Minister Conger
 and the legationers at Pekin. Now
 however, that has given place to prob lems of a more intricate and far reach
 ing character touching the very exist ence of the Chinese empire and the part which the American government is to take in the reconstruction of that coun- try.
 The meeting to-day was devoted en- tirely to the Chinese situation. Secre-
 taries Hay and Root, who have been most active in directing affairs, were absent from the city so that the attend- ance comparatively was small, the president having with him Secretaries Gage, Hitchcock and Wilson and Post master General Smith. Several ques- tions were awaiting attention.
 First of these was the application or Iii Hung Chang for the appointment of Minister Conger or some other com- missioner to negotiate for the cessation of hostilities. The decision arrived at was to reject the appeal, and reply of this character will be sent to Minis ter Wu to be forwarded to Lii Hung Chang. The moving cause for this ac- ton is that this government is at pres ent very much in the dark as to wheth- CT there is any existing government in China.
 With the capital in the hands of the allies, the emperor and empress dow ager fugitives in hiding and the entire government of Fabric paralyzed there IS no evidence of an authority adequate to conduct negotiations and secure re- suits which will be final and binding. It was stated by members of the cab tent that the Chinese establishment, in stead of being government appears to be an enormous headless affair, with out knowledge of what is to it's best good and without power to enforce it's wishes. With the recognized ruler in flight, no one seems to know who if anybody, is directing it's affairs.
 As China is an absolute monarchy, without any legislative branch, the em- peror and empress dowager are all powerful, and practically they are the empire of China. Under the present re- markable conditions, the United States will act with extreme caution in what ever steps it may take toward solu- tion of the pending problems. In the meantime there is reason to believe that the United States and all the other powers interested will keep their armed forces on the ground so that order may be maintained and, at least a sem blance of stable government brought out of the existing chaos.
 The reply of this government to the appeal of the viceroys of Ranking and Human that no indignities be offered the emperor and empress dowager is a for mai acknowledgment of the receipt of the communication with a satisfactory assurance that no indignties would be offered the persons of their majesties This reply is couched in the polite lan- guage of diplomacy. but it is under stood that it does not in any way com- init the government to refrain from imposing on the emperor and empress dowager any policy that subsequently, might be decided upon in case it is proved that they were directly respon- sible for the recent atrocities
 This question of fixing responsibility where it belongs and imposing any punishment that may be deemed fitting has not received formal consideration as yet. The answer with which the two appeals is met accordingly is a diplomatic assurance 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 sanctioned by civilized may be held to call for an accounting. This is the interpretation given the re- ply by a cabinet official tonight. The question of responsibility will have to be worked out slowly.
 The cabinet had before 1t a message | from Minister Conger received last night. After the meeting the state de- | partment made public portion of the | dispatch, as follows: United States Legation, Pekin, undat-
 ed, via Che Foo, Aug. 20.
 Secretary of State, Washington:
 Saved. Relief arrived to-day En- cred city with little trouble Do not yet know where imperial family is. Ex- ,ept deaths already reported, all Amer cans alive and well. Desperate efforts made last night to exterminate us. American soldier, and Rus ian and Japanese wounded; German tiled. Advise Woodward, Chicago; longer, Des Moines; Sims, Council Bluffs Conger, Pasadena; Porter, Par s. (Signed) Conger
 By Fowler, Che Foo" It had been hoped that Minister Con- .er's advices, as well as those from General Chatfee, would be ample by this ime in order to afford the Washington fficials full opportunity to deal with he perplexing questions raised by the ,hinese disturbances. General Chaffee as not been heard from and the Con- CT message was not as complete as the authorities here had desired. It was tated to-day that messages may be ent from here to our representa- tives In 'hina specifically calling for more de- ailed information.
 Aside from the consideration given to l articular questions raised by the Con- CT dispatch, the appeal of Ii Hung