The Topeka state journal., 1900-10-19
China IN A HURRY
Wants to Begin Peace NegOtia-
tiOns Tomorrow.
Whole Matter is In the Hands
of Mr.. COnger.

washington, Oct 1s.-The Chinese
government has made a request upon
Secretary Hay that negotiations begin
tomorrow at Pelzin looking to a settle
ment Of the Chinese question. 1t is said
at the state department that Mr.. Con-
gers instructions are sufficient in
breadth to enable him to proceed with
NEGOTIATIONS tomorrow without further
orders from the department However,
as the Chinese counter proposals receiv-
ed yesterday through Mr.. Conger ap-
pear to warrant further instructions
from the president and Secretary Hay,
Mr. Conger viii be wired today an out
line of the course he is TO pursue in
furtherance of the plans already com
mitted to his care
For obvious reasons the state depart
ment has decided not to make public
the text of these supplementary instruc-
tiOns. But it may be stated that our
government does not regard the Chinese
tender as sufficient to meet the necessl-
ties of the case. 1t is not indicated IN
what respect they fall short, the Chi
nese agreeing according to their note to
express regret, admit liability Tor IN
demnity, and yield anything IN the way
of treaties. in consideration OF the With
drawal of the troops and an armfsttce
It is inferred that our objection IS based
on a lack of guarantees for the present
safety of American citizens at the lega-
ton in China, as we'll as for the protec-
ton Of the missionary and trade inter-
ests in the future. 1t cannot be gathered
that the matter of the sufhciency of the
punishments to be meted out to the Chi
nese offending officials enters into this
objection
The alleged edict setting out the pun
ishments allotted to Prince Tuan and his
fellow conspirators is surrounded with
doubt. Mr.. COnger has advised the
state department that the authenticity
of the edict is called in question in Pc
kim but nowhere has the state depart
al q a official
statement as to the character OF the
edict.
The state department has so far made
no answer to the Chinese proposals. AS
already indicated, it will return this
probably through Mr.. Conger.
The cabinet meeting today was devo-
the Chinese situation. After the meet
ing the members seemed impressed with
the favorable turn matters had taken
and the prospect of satisfactory ad-
justment. The government has received
the proposals of Ii Hung Chang and
Prince Ching offering indemnity and
guarantees for the future and they have
been accepted in good faith The cabi-
net considered that the Chinese govern
ment, in admitting that it had been in
the wrong and in Offering to make pro-
per reparation as well as offering to
provide against a repetition of disorders,
has placed itself in the proper position
and had opened the way to negotiations
for a complete settlement For the pres
through Minister Conger. A favorable
reply to the preliminary proposals of Ii
and Prince Ching, it is understood has
been sent to Minister Conger. It was
stated that these proposals had been !
correctly stated in substance in the |
London advices from Pekin this morn
ing.
KWANG sU TO MCKINLEY
The message of the Chinese emperor
to the president urging early negotia- /
tions for a settlement and the presi- |
dents reply thereto We're made public |
today as follows:
(Handed to the president by Minister |
WI, October II, 1900
The following telegraphic imperial let |
ter dated October IA. 1900. forWarded by |
the prfvy council from Tung Kuan Gin |
hal. by Director General Sheng. under |
date of October 16, has been received |
by Minister WI:
The emperor of Tai Tsing empire to |
his excelieney the president Of the /
United States, Greeting: We are ex- |
tremely grateful to your excellency for |
taking the Initiative in the withdrawal /
of troops (from Pekin) and for consent /
ing, in the interest Of the friendly rela- |
tions to use your kindly offices between |
China and the friendly powers who have /
been offended on account of the recent /
unexpected uprising in China
We therefore especially delegate our /
envoy extraordinary and minister pleni- /
pOtentiary. WI Ting Fang, to personally /
deliver this telegraphic letter to your ex-
ceilency, conveying our sincere express
sion of thanks.
We beg that your excellency, in the
interest Of peace and international good /
relations, will exert your friendly in
hUence with the other powers toward |
the complete effacement of all i'll feeling
and the speedy determination on their
part, to negotiate for peaceful settle
ment- For this we shall feel unbounded
gratitude towards your exeellency, whose
good offices we are now earnestly be-
Seeching''
MCKINLEY TO KWANG SU.
Communicated to Minister WI, for
transmission, October Is, 1909
Washington. Oct. Is, 1900.
His Majesty. Kwang Su, Emperor of
China. Greeting:
It has afforded me much pleasure to
receive your imperial majesty's tele-
graphic letter of October A. which has
been delivered by your majesty's min
ister in Washington.
1 cordially share your majeSty's wish
that there may be a peaceful settlement
of all questions between China and the
powers whose interests have so griev-
ously suffered wrong in your majesty's
1OminionS. and that the outcome may be
the complete effacement of ill-feeling be-
tween them The desire of this govern
ment that such a settlement may be
brought about speedily, has been made
that negotiations may begin so soon as
we and the other offended governments
shall be effectively satisfied of your
majesty's ability and power to treat
With Just sJernneSS the principal offenders,
who are doubly culpable not alone
towards the foreigners but towards your
majesty, under whose rule the purpose
Of China TO dwell in concord with the
world has hitherto found expression in
the welcome and protection assured to