The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-20

ceiyed this morning in which he said 1t
| was reported from Chinese sources that the
jyaI family had escaped, further compli-
| ca S>s-the situation, as his advices by cable
yesterday, credited to japanese sources.
were that they were still in Pellin-
The Government is still awaiting report
from Minister Conger, and this will be
carefully considered before action is teken.
This Government has proceeded on the
| theory that the Chinese Government was
not in sympathy with the opposition TO the
allies and would, if it wer able to do SO,
put Down the anti-foreign uprising. There
is now ground for the suspicion that I'm
periaI troops are opposing the allies with
the approval of the Chinese Government.
In that opposition lies the danger of a
war that will involve the entire Empire
and cause the powers to abandon their
present attitude of what may be termed
unofficial hostilities This Government is
hopeful, however, that war in its official,
technical sense Will be averted, but it is
extremely anxious as to the outcome OF
the conditions at the Chinese capital
The Government has yet 10 strong rea-
son to believe the report from japanese
sources that the Empress Dowager and the
Emperor. are in the Forbidden City. There
is at least sufficient doubt cast on the au-
thenticity of the japanese report TO cause
the officials here not to abandon their IN
derstanding that the Empress and her
suite with a large portion OF the Imperial
Army, had left Pekin before the allies ar
rived. AS matters stand the situation Is
so complicated that the Government is
unable to form any correct idea of condi-
| tons as they exist in Pekin today and OF
! its relations with the Government OF CHI
na
Another Appeal From Ii Refused
1t is on account of this uncertainty that
the United States will decline to entertain
another appeal for peace from Ii Hung
Chang that was delivered to the State De-
partment this morning by Minister WI.
In his communication Earl Ii maintained
that the conditions laid down in the sew
eral declarations Of the State Department
and the answer of the President 10 the
Emperor of China's appeal for peace had
been complied with and he therefore sug-
gested that this Government appoint a
peace commissioner to negotiate with Chi
na and the powers for an amieable ar
rargement Of the existing differences.
The proposal Of Ii Hung Chang was in
the form Of a memorandum prepared by
Minister Wa. and Will be answered in
similar form When the answer viii be
returned is not disclosed by the State De-
partment officials, who Indicate however,
| that the Government will take its time
in responding The Governments posi-
tion is that the conditions which it laid
down as preliminary to peace have not
been fulfilled. One of these was that
order must be restored and foreigners
| protected. although Ii, it is understood,
overlooks in his appeal these important
points. contenting himself with the as
sertion that the relief OF the legations
las accomplished all The purpose OF the
powers.
| Conger as Peace CoIn,.sis ~iouer.
| Earl Ii suggests that Minister Conger
would be highly acceptable to the I'm
perial Government as The representative
of the United States on peace commits
sion, though anyone whom the United
States might name. who was familiar with
the difficulty in China, would be acceptable
to the Chinese Government, he says
Earl Ii assumes that the powers will
want to hold a peace conference in either
| Pekin OF Tientsin, and urges that steps
in this direction be taken soon. He sug-
gests these places Earl Ii makes this
proposal to the United States and the
other powers in his capacity of peace en-
voy extraordinary and pIenipotentiary
representing his sovereign. and, it is said.
has not communicated with nor been in
strue;ed by the Imperial Government, be
cause this was unnecessary.
The latest official reports show that orde-
has not been restored, even in the city of
PeEin, where fighting was in progress when
the reports were written. Admiral Remey
reported last night, basing his statement
on Japanese information, that the innzr
| city was being bombarded by the allies,
! and today ne announces on the authority
of a United States naval officer, Leuten-
ant Latimer, that the troops are clearing
! out the Tartar City and are moving on the
Imperial City. In these circumstances it
is impossible fer the Government to listen
to al appeal for an amicable arrangement.
Serious at Shanghai, AIso.
The situation at Shanghai also presents
serious aspects and the uncertainty ex-
i.ting there must be cleared away before
there can be any announcement that nor
nal conditions have been restored in Chi
ma. The report from Shanghai by way OF
Paris that American troops are preparing
to land there does not throw a brighter
| light on the condition of affairs Such a
landing would mean that American inter
ests were in danger.
The commander of the cruiser New Or