Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-08-23
EARL LIS APPEAL.
The Chinaman Wants an Armis-
tice Arranged at Tung Chow.
The S7A7ESNAN'S REQUEST REFUSED
Tho American Government Says II There
Il to BE Halt 1t Must be 1t Walls
Of Pskin-The Latest COnger
Dispatch.

Of Pskin-The Latest Congsr
Dispatch.
| Washington, Aug. l7.--At the close
OF a day of intense anxiety the depart
ment of state last night made public
the latest correspondence between
the United States government and
China, constituting not only remark
able series of state papers, but at the
same time dspelling all doubt and
uncertainty as to the American poll
cy in the present critical juncture.
The urgent, almost pathetic, appeal
of Ii Hung Chang, submitted early
in the day, that the victorious march
of the allies stop at Tung Chow and
that the military commanders Of the
field be instructed to arrange an ar
mistice at that point, was met with
a response that Gen. Chatfee already
had been given complete instructions
empowering him to carry out an ar
rangement in concert with other com
manders for the delivery of the min
listers and persons under their pro-
lection to the relief column, not at
Tung Chow, as had been suggested,
but at the imperial city of pekin.
Furthermore, it was known to China
that Gen. Chaffee's instructions left
free rein as to whether he should in
sist upon entering Pekin and going
to the legations or should receive the
delivery of the legationers at the gate
of the inner Tartar city or at the
great outer wall In short, China,
through her peace envoy, besought
halt and an armistce at Tung Chow,
II miles from Pekin, whereas the
response of the American government
Is that, il there is to be a haitian
armistice--it must be at the walls OF
the imperial city.
The appeal of China and the prompt
response of the American government
were the subject of supreme interest
throughout the day. Coming at
moment when the allied armies were
in the shadow of the great walls Of
Pekin, the circumstances in which
the correspondence occurred were of
n peculiarly momentous character.
The president had just returned from
n brief respite at Canton and, going
to the white house, found his advisers
ready to present to him the issue
now advanced by China. The appeal
from Ii Hung Chang came first to the
Chinese minister, who, early in the
day, conveyed it to the department
of state. Although it was not the
regular day for meeting of the
cabinet word was conveyed to those
cabinet officers in the city that a
special cabinet session would be held
at II o'clock. Secretary Root, who
has been guiding factor in the Chi
nese negotiations, was with the pres
dent before the meeting opened pre-
sentng the Chinese communications
and the dispatches of instructions
already sent to Chatfee. With the
president at the cabinet table were
Secretaries Root, Gage. Wilson and |
Postmaster General Smith. After the
cabinet meeting the American reply
was sent to the Chinese minister,who,
later in the day cabled it to Ii Hung
Chang,
Thus the issue was framed, finally
and unalterably. The United States
declined even to consider the propo-
sition OF Ii Hung Chang for halt |
and an armistice at Tung Chow. Even
the supreme appeal of the venerable
Chinese statesman that the Chinese
empire would be shaken by an adj
vance of the allies beyond Tung Chow
was not needed. The answer of the
United States is that our position is
the same now as it has been from
the outset, namely, that the ministers
must be delivered at the walls of
Pekin, and in such circumstances as
will meet the judgment of the mill
tary commanders on the spot,
The conclusions of the government
were announced after an extended
cabinet meeting, At the same time
the authorities gave out the latest
dispatch from Minister Conger, re-
ceived yesterday through the Chinese
minister, Mr., WI II was embodied
In an official statement MS follows:
Our cipher is safe. May it not be
sufficient authenticity? We have
been imprisoned and completely be-
sieged since June 90. Continued ar.
tillery and rifle firing until June Ii,
only rifle since, but daily; with fire.
quently desperate attacks, one last
night Have already reported our
losses. French, Italian, Belgian, Aus
trian, Dutch legations and all other
foreign property in Pekin destroyed.
DIR. lnglis' child dead. Marines, Fan
ming, Fisher, Turner, King, Hutcher,
KENNY and Thomas killed. All other
Americans alive. Inform Alta and
Secretary Ryan. Nearing allied forces
give us hope"