The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-07-26
WAITING FOR CHINA.
Chances For Mediation Not
Considered Bright.
UNITED STATES TO UNDERTAKE TASK
Presidents Reply to the Empcror's
Appeal Not Expected to Bring an
Answer For several Dnys-Tcxt
of the Correspondence.


WASHINGTON. July 25.-The state
department is again in waiting atti.
tude regarding China. 1t has frankly.
promptly and fully answered the Chi
nese emperor's appeal for mediation. and
the next move is for the Chinese gov
ernmcnt 1t is expected to accept or re-
jcct our terms at once and in either
case the answer must convey tidings Of
The state of affairs at peking and the
welfare of the lcgationcrs
The belief is not concealed here that
the chances for successful mediation are
slight. Mediation cannot be forced up.
on party to Il cause. Ii must be ac-
ceptable to all the parties. If the Unit
Cd States is to mediate in China's inter
est, she must first secure the assent of
all the powers who have suffered in life
or property Mt Picking. The difficulties
IN the way of such an undertaking are
likely to be many and serious in view of
the exhibition of feeling ia Europe. But
it is said here that the United States
will cheerfully undertake the task pro-
vided its conditions are met If it does
not succeed in inducing the European
powers to be lenient in their treatment
of the imperial government of China, the
United States government will not be
drawn into further hostilities after we
have taken care of our own affairs but
we will withdraw. taking care. how
ever, to let it be understood that this
government will not allow its proper
interest in China to be injured by the
action of any of the powers that may
choose to remain obdurate.
At least one of the greatest of the
powers is under strong suspicion here of
acting cold bloodedly and without regard
to sentiment or anything more than the
most material of considerations. 1t is be-
lieved here that this power is quietly
taking measures to drop out of the
league at Tien-tsin and conduct cam
paign on its own account against Peking,
and it is even suspected that this power
is already moving troops toward the
Chinese capital.
One fact regarded as now beyond need
of further demonstration in view of the
Chinese appeal is that the Chinese Off
cials at the coast ports are actually in
communication with whatever remains
of the imperial government at Pekng,
and the text of kwang Su's appeal APP
pears to establish the fact that the Chi
hese government itself is sanctioning the
resistance to the international advance
upon Peking.
The state department and the Chinese
legation substantially agree in the esti-
mate of six to eight days as the time
necessary to get reply to the presidents
answer to the appeal of the Chinese gov
ernment. According to the best informa-
tion here urgent messages are being
transmitted between Picking and Shang-
hal by the flying express" mentioned in
Consul Fowler's cablegram n few days
ago. This, according TO the Chinese. is
relay system ofsmounted messengers
similar to the old pony service across the
plains and is used when the wire COM
munication is interrupted. The relay rid
ers make about 200 miles day. 1t is 400
miles from Shanghai to Peking, and this
seems to agree very well with the speed
made in forwarding and returning the
Conger message.
Secretary Root said yesterday that he
supposed the Fourteenth infantry had
arrived at Taku. BY the end of this
month the United States would have
5000 troops in China. He said the re-
ports of yellow fever among the soldiers
of the First infantry would not prevent
the departure of that regiment from
Cuba.
The following correspondence between
the president Of the United States and
the emperor of China has been made
public by the state department:
Translation of cablegram received by
Minister WI on July 90, 1900, from the
taotai of Shanghai, dated July 10, 1900:
Have received telegram from Gov
ernor Yuan of Shanghai dated 23d day
OF this moon July 19), who. having re-
ceived from the privy council at Peking
a dispatch embodying an imperial letter
to the president of the United States, has
instructed me to transmit it to your eX-
cellency. The imperial message is re-
spectfuly transmitted as follows:
"'The Emperor of China to His Excel
lency, the President of the United
States, Greeting:
"'China has long maintained friendly
relations with the United States and is
deeply conscious that the object of the
United States is international commerce.
Neither country entertans the least sus.
picion or distrust toward the other. Re
cent outbreaks of mutual antpathy be-
tween the people and Christian missions
caused the foreign powers to view with
unwarranted suspicion the position of the
Imperial government as favorable TO the
people and prejudicial TO the missions
with the result that the Taku forts were
attacked and captured. Consequently
there has been clashing of forces. with
calamitOus consequences.
The situation has become more and
more serious and critical. We have just
received a telegraphic memorial from oul
envoy, WI Ting Fang, and it is highly
gratifying to US to learn that the United
States government, having in view ths
friendly relations between the two coun
tries, has taken a deep interest in the
present situation. Now China driven by
the irresistible course of events, has un
fortunately incurred well nigh uniyersa
indignation.
"'For settling the present difficulty
China places special reliance in the Unit
ed States. We address this message tC
your excellency in all sincerity and can
didness, with the hope that your excel
lency will devise measures and take tn,
initiative in bringing about a concert o.
the powers for the restoration of orde
and peace. The favor of a kind reply il
EARNESTLY rpnuaSta1 and awaited with m,