The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-14
MUST LET TROOPS IN
GOVERNMENT DEMANDS THEIR EN-
TRY INTO PEI<IN
AS AN ESCORT TO MINISTERS
THE ONLY CONDITION FOR CESsA.
TION OF HoSTILITIES.

Fears Expressed That China Will
Risk All Rather Than Permit the
Foreign Troops to Enter the Sacred
City-Nevertheless No Peace Nego-
tiations Will BE Entered Into I'm
till China Has Assented TO and Com
piled With This Condition.
Washington. Aug. 13-In language
whose meaning can neither be miscon-
strued nor mistaken, this government has
set forth as the sole condition on which
it will treat with Lii Hung Chang for a
cessation of hostilities. that a sufficient
body of the forces composing the relief
expedition shall be permitted TO enter
Pekin unmolested and to escort the for
eight ministers and residents back to
T1en Tsin.
The arrangements for this disposition of
troops and everything connected with the
movement must, according to the an
nouncement of this government. be under
the supervision of the generals command
ing the forces of the relief expedition.
This brings the situation to a point
where China is informed that there is but
one thing for her to do and that she must
do this quickly. There is to be no vast
ing of time in diplomatic discussions or
in the consideration of minor details
When China acts in accordance with the
line of conduct here laid down, then and
not until then will this government enter
upon negotiations with the specially-ap-
rNla
All of this is clearly set forth in the
reply which Acting Secretary Adee has
sent to the Chinese government through
Minister WI, and which was made pub
tic to-day. This government gives formal
expression of satisfaction at the appoints
ment of Ii Hung Chang, and adds its as
surances of willingness to negotiate when
the time comes; but at the same time, it
lays down a distinct programme which
China must follow as precedent to these
negotiations.
To Be No More Talking.
According to this, there is to be no more
talk about placing the ministers under a
Chinese escort. In the general conditions
he laid down in his response to the Chi
nese Emperor's request for the friendly
offices of this government, President Nc
Kinley contemplated cooperation between
the Chinese authorities and the relief
column, in bringing about the safe de-
liverance of the legation forces to Tien
Tsin. In this last reply he shows how
this must be done. that the relief forces
must be permitted to enter Pekin unmo-
Tested, and that the forces, presumably
with the cooperation or under the pro-
lection of the imperial forces, shall per-
form the mission assigned to them with
out being troubled. Then the time will
come 10 talk of peace.
In official and diplomatic circles the
vigor of the American reply is generally
commented upon. In some quarters there
is a slight disposition to criticize. These
critics seem to think that the same end
could be brought about without the hui
initiation to China incident to the march
ing of foreign troops into the capital
city.
For the most part, however, the ten
dency in diplomatic circles is 20 praise
similar replies wild be made by the other
Powers. This. il is claimed will have the
effect of bringing the situation TO an i'm
mediate head. IT
China May Not Accent 1t.
On the other hand there are some peo-
pie in high official position here, who are
inclined to believe that some sort of lee
way should have been left the Chinese
turned over their precious charges to the
allied forces without making the entry
of the foreign troops into Pekin neces-
sity. China, these people point out, has
had experience with some of the nations
which have calculated on getting their
troops into Pekin for the purpose of en-
forcing demands for concessions of all
kinds 1t may be that rather than permit
this, rather than accept the one cond.-
ton laid down by President Mckinley,
they would prefer to risk everything.
In this view of the case there are many
people who regard the situation as less
favorable than they thought it yesterday
OH the heel of the appointment of Ii to
conduct peace negotiations. 1t is almost
certain that the Chinese will make a Wig
orous protest against this condition and
will probably bring forward counter
propositions designed on the fact at least
10 bring about the same end.