Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-08-09
FROM WASHINGTON.
ICorrespondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington. August 8.

The state depart menu tnls mQrning
gave out the following text of the note
addressed to Minister WI yesterday by
the United States: eve are availing
ourself of the opportunity offered by
the imperial edict OF the 9th of August
allowing to the foreign ministers free
communication with their respective
governments in cipher and have sent
communication to Minister ConRer, to
which we await an answer. We ere
already advised by him, 10 a brief dis
patch received August z. that imperial
troops are firing daily upon the
ministers 10 Pekin. We demand
the immediate cessation of hos
tile attacks by imperial troops
upon the legations and urge the exer-
else of every power and energy OF the
imperial government for the protection
Of the legations and all foreigners there
liz. We are also advised by the same
dispatch from Minister CoDger that IN
his opinion for the foreigp ministers to
leave Pekin as proposed in the edict OF
August would be certain death. 10
view of the fact that the imperial troops
are now firing upon the legations, and
| 10 view of the doubt expressed by the
imperial government in its edict OF Aug
ust 2 as to its power to restore o1dsr
and secure absolute safety in Pekin, IL
it evident that this apprehension is well
| founded, for if your government cannot
protect our minister in Pekin, it will
presumDtively be unable to protect him
upon q Journey from Pekin to tho coast.
We therefore urge upon the imperial
government that it shall adopt the
course suggested in the third clause OF
the letter of the President to his Mates
tv, the Emperor OF China, OF July %,
! 1900, aud enter into communication
with the relief expedition so that CO.
operation may be secured between them
| for the Liberation of the legations, the
protection of foreigners and the restora-
| ton of order. Such action on the part
of the imperial government would be a
satisfactory demonstration OF its friend
| Iiness and desire to attain these ends"
The Presidents reply to the request
for moderation "solemnly urged" that
the Chinese government should take
| certain steps } demonstrate its friend.
illness. Secretary Adee's note now
goes a step farther and "demands' that
the imperial troops be stopped from at
| lacking The legations and urges" again
| that the suggestion previously made by
this government be adopted by China.
II is preliminary to future communi-
| cations which may become progressive
ly importunste il the Chinese govern
ment fails to meet the views of the
| United States. Cabioet officials pro-
TESS to be very much surprised at the
tone OF the papers this morning in rep
resentiOg the Chinese situation, both
diplomatic and military, to have in.
creased in gravity. They say, on the
contrary, that they b lisve it to
be greatly improved. The receipt
Of the Cooger dispatch 10 cipher
shows, they say, that the Chinese gov
erument is preparing to back down
and the message from Chaffee regard
ing the taking of Peitsang was especial
ly encouraging. 1t shows the Chi
nese are not putting no the resistance
It was expected from them. Only
about 4 900 of the allied troops were
actually engaged, it now appears, In
that fight and yet they we're able to
drive the ChiUese from their entrench-
ed positions. At the War department
it is accepted as showing that there are
plenty of troops now in China to meet
present emergencies and that there
will be enough when oil arrive that are
now under orders to 20 there to handle
the entire situation. Under the cir
cumstances the officials are distinctly
encouraged at the outlook and believe
chat the gravity of the situation is les
sening rather than increasing. 1t is
said that no more troops will be
orderered TO China and there
is no expectation that an extra
session of Congress will be called to de-
clare war for the reason that no war is
| expected. 1t is learned that President
| Mckinley, when the message of Adee
| to the Chinese government as original
| ly drafted was read over to him last
evening, himself suggested several
notifications, preferring to retain some
| of the stronger expressions used In the
first draft for use 10 succeeding commu-
nications, should they become neces-
sary. One of the notifications at
tributed to the President is the striking
| out of the suggestion that the allied
troops should be allowed to enter Pekin
to take away the foreigners.
Secretary Adee's memorandum to
the Chinese government through Minis
eer Wa, taken 10 connection with the
reply of the President to Emperor
Kwang Hsu's appeal for mediation, is
a reiteration Of all the demands pre-
viously made by the United States to-
.ether with al additional one, based
upon Minister Conger's information
that imperial troops were joining in the
attacks on the legations, that these as
saults shall Immediately cease. Again
is the Chinese government reminded
of its responsibility for the protection
Of the diplomates, and that the United
States do not view with favor its pro-
posal to escort them to Tientsin be-
cause OF the dangers on the way. Its
cooperation with the allied forces is
once more urged and it is suggested
that only by complying with these re-
lterated demands can the Chinese
government prove that it's attitude
- not unfriend!y to the foreign powers.
The publication of the memorandum
disproves the reports that an ultimatum
mad been seat to China. 1t does not
wen descend to threats, but leaves the
Chinese authorities 10 infer the conse-
quences that will follow refusal to
comply with this oounty's desires. 1t is
the first unlimited communication with
the Chinese government itself that has
been sent since the siege OF the legations
In Pekin began two months ago, The
Pres. response to the appeal for me-
diation was called out by the document