The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-21

blegram to Vienna from Hong Kong
the capture of Pekin, but
the Austrian government, like other
European powers, is still without con-
frmation of this report. An official
telegram, dated August IA, has been
received at Rome which asserts that
the attack on Pekin began Monday,
and hat Sir Claude Macdonald, the
British minister, has opened communi-
cation with the relieving column and
that the allies have established their
headquarters at Tung Chow. Chinese
officials in Shanghai are reported as
admitting that the allies inflicted a
heavy defeat on the Chinese imperial
troops around Tung Chow Sunday and
then marched direct on Pekin. This,
if true carries, the Japanese official ad-
vices, announcing the capture of Tung
Chau one step further.
The western overs, according to a
dispatch to The Daily Press from Kobe,
accepted the proposals formulated by
the Japanese for arranging an armis-
tice, dependent upon the immediate
delivery of the foreign legations to the
allies or the granting of permission to
the allied forces to enter Pekin n to
guard the legations. Upon these bases.
the correspondent says, Japan has al
ready begun to negotiate.
Shanghai dispatches declare that the
Chinese had intended to make a final
attack upon the legations last Sun
day, but whether the plan was carried
out is not known there.
London, August 1.-THE c%oncensus
of opinion expressed by the morning
papers end TO the belief that the le-
cations are now safe with the allies.
Conserving the captpre of Hosiwu a
special dispatch says that the head
gear of the Americans vas quite in
sufficient for the awful heat and that
the were direful.
SIR ROBERT HART LEAVES Pc
KIN.
Hong Kong, August 16.-It is report
ed that the Canton customs depart
ment has received a dispatch saying
that Sir Robert Hart director general
of Chinese imperial maritime customs,
accompanied by his staff, has left Pc
kin under Chinese escort and that a
cruiser will be sent to meet his on his
reaching the coast.
Shanghai, August 16.-The British
transport had sailed, but they were re-
called by a torpedo boat destroyer and
have now returned to WI Sung.
Berlin, August ia semi-official
dispatch from Shanghai dated Wedne
day August 18th says:
The foreign consuls, acting on a
joint resolution have sent TO their re-
spective governments the following
telegram:
eff the Indian troops CBritish) are
withdrawn from WI Sung it will con-
stitute a n to the safety OF
Shanghai. These troops ought to be
landed on the basis of an international
understanding. To ensure the ade-
quat safety of Shanghai, more troops
ought to be landed Immediately.
Washington. August 16.-At the close
of a day of intense anxiety the depart
ment of state tonight made public the
latest correspondence etween the
United States government and China,
constituting not only a remarkable Sc
ries of state papers. but at the same
time dispalling all CUB and uncertain
ty as to the American policy in the
present critical juncture.
The urgent. almost pathetic appeal
of Ii Hung Chang, submitted early In
the day, that the victorious march or
the allies stop at Tung Chow, and that
the military commanders on n field
be instructed to arrange an armistlce
at tina point, was met with a response
that General Chaffee already had been
given complete instructions mpoWer
ing him to carry out an agreement IN
concert with other commanders for the
delivery of the ministers and persons
under their protection to the relief COL
umn, not at Tung Chow, as a been
suggested, but at the imperial city OF
Pekin.
Furthermore it was made known to
China that General Chaffee's instruc-
tons left him free-rein as to whether
he should insist upon entering Pekin
and going to the legations, or SHOULD
receive the delivery of the legations at
the gate of the inner Tartar city or al
the great outer wall. In short, China
through her peace envoy, besought a
halt. and an armistice at Tung Chow
twelve miles from Pekin; whereas, the
responses of the American government
is that if there is to be a haitian
armiStice-it must be at the walls OF
the imperial city.
The conclusions of the government
were announced after AM extended cabi.
net meeting. At the same time the au-
thorities gave out the latest dispatches
from Minister Conger, received to-day
through the Chinese minister, Mr.. WI
The appeal of China and the promp'
responses of the American government
were the subject of supreme interes
throughout the day. Coming at a mo-
ment when the allied armies were IL
the had of the great walls of Pekin
the circumstances in which the CORE
spondence occurred were of a peculiarly
momentouS character.
SPECIAL CABINET MEETING.
The president had just returned from
a brief respite at Canton, and, COINS
to the White house, found his adviser.
ready to present to him the issue nov
advanced in China
The appeal from Ii Hung Chang
came first to the Chinese minister, who
early in the day, conveyed it to the de
partment of state.
Although it was not the regular da,
for a meeting of the cabinet, word wa
conveyed to these cabinet officers il
the city that a special cabinet session
would be held at IL o'clock. Secretar.
Root, who has been a guiding factor II
the Chinese negotiations, was with tn
president before the meeting opened
presenting the Chinese communication
and the dispatches Of Instructions al
ready sent to General Chaffee. Wit
the president at tt cabinet table wer
Secretaries Root, Gage, Wilson an,
StmaS Ganoro1 Srnifh