The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-07-24
PRESIDENT WILL MEDIATE
fl TORABLE ANSWEJs GIVEN TO
 CHINA'S INQUEST.

l Minister Wu Informed Yesterday After-
 noon-Conditions Named but They
 Are Not Considered Impossible for
 Ympcrial Government to FiiI-Im-
 mediate ReIief of Ministers and Other
 Washington, July 22-The president
 has listened to the appeal of the Chinese
 government as transmitted by Minister | Wu and has signified his willingness to
 mediate between the imperial govern
 ment and the powers but only upon con-
 ditions which first must be met by the
 Chinese government.
 The exact nature of the terms pro-
 posed by the state department cannot
 be stated until tomorrow. when it is
 expected that publication will be made
 of the text of the Chinese appeal and of
 the presidents answer. It is known,
 however, that the answerNis entirely
 consistent with the statement of prin-
 ciples laid down by Secretary Hay in
 his identical note to the powers, and |
 Chinese statement relative to the safety
 of the foreign ministers at Pekin.
 It would not, of course, be possible to
 take even the initial steps toward me-
 diation were either party to the nego- | tiations to entertain openly a distrust of the accuracy of the statements of the other There must be confidence be-
 tween them The United States answer does not go to the length of the French
 answer to a similar appeal in laying down conditions which the Chinese gov ernment could not meet, even if so dis posed, if it actually Is struggling for its own existence It does, however, look to the immediate relief of the foreign ministers In Pekin and, more- over, to the protection of all foreign CTS. missionaries and traders in China and to the restoration of order. With that much accomplished the state department feels that it can prop erly approach the powers with the Ch- nese propositions for settlement for what has occurred. The Chinese appeal came to Secretary Hay yesterday through Minister Wu The secretary promptly telegraphed it to the president at Canton, and after taking a full day for it's consideration the presidents an- swer came this afternoon to the state department It was put in the proper diplomatic form and copy delivered to Minister Wu. who was to forward 1t to his own government. The appeal and answer will be made public here to-n1or- row.
 The imperial edict (published else where In this paper) made public at the state department shows that the mper- ial government already has taken the first step towards doing what the United States requires as to the princi- pal condition for the exercise of its good offices, in enjoinipg the vceroys. magistrates and leading men to stop the disorders and protect foreigners Our government will await the result of this before proceeding further It Is expect ed that adverse criticism upon the ac- tion of the state department In this matter will be heard from Europe where the governments are acting upon the belief that all the foreign ministers in Pekin have perished, but our, govern ment nevertheless, regards its course as the correct one.
 All of the European governments have taken the stand above indicated The last of the answers to Secretary Hays note reciting the Conger message have come and all of them, in terms polite and dipl1matic, express utter incredul- ity in the authenticity of the Conger message. Consul General Goodnow a man of good judgment, also cabled warning to Secretary Hay against the acceptance of the message without confirmation. But the state de- pertinent has fully considered the mes sage kn all of its aspects, has carefully the numerous objections and put forth here and in Europe 1 and without guaranteeing the authenti- l city of the message feels 1t to be a mat | ter of prime duty to act upon the theo- 1 ry that i. is genuine
 Admiral Remey's notification to the ! department that he had gone in person up to the Pei Ho from Taku to Tien 1sin is attributed to the receipt by him of Secretary Longs urgent message to | hasten the efforts to get to Pekin, and important news from him Is expected | soon.
 The war department, 1t appears, un- 1erestimated the time that would be re- 1uired for the Grant to arrive at Naga- 'ako. She sailed on the first instant. SO hat she Is not yet quite due at that point with General Chaffee
 The Geodnow cablegram reciting the message from Prince Tuan as vouchIne Or the safety of the foreign ministers 'n July 1S caused ripple of excitement Or time at the state department. but heofficials soon concluded from the con ents ard other circumstances surround ng the message that Yuan was meant Instead of Tuan, SO that the message ost the value it would have had if if lad come from the redoubtable Boxer eader. J1PT M'CALLA'S DIFFERENTIATION