The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-08-03
HAYS REPLY
BORDERS CLOSE
TO ACTUAL WAR.
Refers to the Unfriendliness, of
Chinese-only Narrow Step Be-
',Iiss tween It and Hostilities.
CHINA LLACCEPT OURTERMS
Is the General Belief-Not More Than
Battle Required-Thought That
I Allis Have Not Started.

Z '<hSAAlASH4oGN, y. ~, AuS' s.~soeC-
retary Hays reply TO Ii Hung Chang
has closed the negotiations with China
unless the old viceroy Is able to secure
full acceptance of terms relative to the
foreign ministers and that at once. No
orders, therefore. looking to relaxn-
tion of the preparations for the nd-
vance on Pekin have gone out from
Washington, for as the situation is
described by one Of the leading Off
cials here there will be no bargaining
on our part In advance of the conccss-
ion by the Chinese authorities Of full
and free communication with the for
eign minister's"
There Is, moreover note omlnously
close to actunl war In Secretary Hays
declaration that the conduct Of the
Chinese government is "unfriendly."
That kind Of language IS extreme in
diplomacy and 1t Is only narrow step
between it and formal war.
Will Accept Our Terms.
The impression prevails here that the
Chinese government, II 1t Is not abso-
!lutely bereft of power to act In defiance
of the boxers, will accept our terms.
and some such action is looked for very
soon. Possibly a battle. not more 1t is
believed than one at most. will be re-
quired to bring the imperial govern
ment to the point of acceptance, though
In that case 1t is questionable whether
the original conditions would be re-
garded as still open to acceptance. If
the Chinese government now. accepts,
however. the United States government
will be face to face with one of the
most delicate and most momentous po-
liticul tasks ever undertaken. 1t must
attempt to redeem Its promise to use
In the present temper Of some of the
European powers the greatest difficult
ties may, be expected 10 urfse' in the
prosecution OF the attempt.
Majority Of Powers Will Accede.
: 1t is the confident expectation OF the
officials here, however, that II the Chi
nese government actually and In good
faith meets all OF the four conditions
laid down by the President In his reply
to the Chinese emperor's appeal for
aid, that at least n majority of the
powers now represented in China will
accept that as proper base upon
which to cease present hostilities and
open negotiations for settlement. The
decision Of the majority in such n case
without doubt would receive the ac-
quiescence Of the minority. else an in
terminable ENHANCEMENT might arise.
Secretary Root said this afternoon
there had been no developments which
would necessitatc any changes In the
instructions 20 General Chaffee. or
which would change the intentions of
the government in the least. A cipher
cable message was sent to General
Chaffee by secretary Root to.day,
which contained additional information
and facts which have developed since
the last message was sent him at Nag
asaki. The message contained no ad-
ditlonal Instructions. but merely infor-
nation which he may use as guide to
his actions.
Believed No Advance Has Been Made
1t Is not believed at the war depart
ment that an advance has been made
as yet from Tien Tsin. 1t Is explained
that the last dispatches indicated a
great deal of delay in unloading the
tranports and before any advance can
be made the troops must have all their
equipments and transportation for
them. The Indications are that the
plans being maturcd ut T!en Tsin con-
template rapid advance when the
movement begins, for 1t seems to be
understood that there will be carried
with the army Il sufficient quantity OF
supplies to maintain the troops on the
march to Pekin and return, Il q return
should be advisable.
The fact that no reports were re-
cclved from General Chuffee during the
day was not surprising to the war de-
partmcnt officials, who said that the
general was busy preparing for the
campaign, and moreover. communica-
tion between Talsu and Che Foo Is un-
in, .