The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-28
WRECK OF AN EMPIRE
DIFFICULT PROBLEM OF HOW TO RE-
STORE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
SITUATION IN THAT COUNTRY
Subject of ~Cablegram From Gem
eral Chafee and by the
Cabinet-Not Given to the Public.
China without a Government-The
American Troops Capture Portions
of the sacred Cfty-Captain Reilly
He'd Battle Near Tfen Tsin.

long conference at the White house to-
day the reply of the United state to
the application of Il Hung Chang for
the appointment of peace commission
ers was completed and a copy Of the
reply sent to the Chinese minister, Mr..
WI, TO be forwarded to Earl Ii.
The state department made definite
announcement that the reply had been
conveyed to Mr.. WI, but added to its
official utterance that correspondence
would not be made public until tomor-
row morning. A copy OF the reply was
sent to other governments represented
in china
The American reply is chiefly char
acterized by its firm tone and brevity.
Its keynote is the presidents attitude
as laid down in the American note OF
July 3rd and there is the striotest adj
herence to the points enumerated at
that time. While the document is open
to the construction of being a rejection
of Lii Hung Chang's proposition for
immediate negotiation, yet it is stated
by those who have read the answer
with care and nav had a part in its
preparation that rejection is probably
too strong a term to apply TO 1t. The
United States places itself in a posi-
tiOn of being read at the proper time
to take up peace negotiations, but in
the present unsettled condition of af-
fairs in the empire, the lack of knOwl-
edge as to who are the responsible
rulers, and what constitutes the actual
Chinese government, it is made clear
hat the time has not arrived for pur-
suing the negotiation proposed. The
formal courtesy of diplomatic proceed
ure is preserved, but at the same time
the entire tenor of the docume is
one of force and firmness.
The government of the United States
takes the position that negotiations
are impossible with a government
which cannot prevent hOstilities
against the forces of the powers which
Were sent to the Chinese capital to
save their ENJOYS. AS long as attacks
are made on the troops of this and 9TH
er governments such as have followed
the occupation of Pekin and the at
tacks in the vicinity of Tien Tsin, it
is deemed thai the Chinese govern
ment is either unwilling or unable to
prevent these hostilities n for this
reason negotiations must be deferred.
1t is stated however that the reply
is a step in the direction of opening
negotiations.
No question is raised as to the au-.
thority of Lii Hung Chang to represent
his government, but it is said hat his
credentials, like those of all others
who come together for the purpose of
negotiating terms of peace, Will be ex-
amined by the respective representa-
tives and the validity of the papers of
each representative determined by that
body. The United States, however,
communicating with Mr.. WI, recog-
nizes him as the official representative
of the Chinese government. Minister
WI received the reply early this after
noon and work was Immediately begun
m rs rran SInfinn first nr tho An00ri-
can text to the Chinese, and then from
Chinese into the cipher. This took
some time, and ii was not until late
in the day that h reply was actually
dispatched.
The most important development of
she lay as to the actual conditions in
Pekin came late in the afternoon when
the state department made public a
dispatch from Minister longer, dated
at Pekin only three days ago.
Minister Conger makes no mention
of his desire to come home and it is
stated officially that this government
has made no suggestion that he return
to this country.
The military situation was of quite
as much interest in today's develop
ment as was the diplomatic. Admir-
al Remey reported early in the morn
ing, bringing the story of the Pekin
operations up to the 10th in Pekin and
confirming the press repor already
printed of the death of h gallant
Captain Reilly in the final assault on
the outer walls of Pekin.
The signal office contributed its
quota of news in the following dispatch
from Major Scriven, chief signal Off
Ger of the expedition dated Pekin, Au-
gust 18th:
city occupied. All well.
"SCRIVEN.
The signal office says that while this
dispatch was several days in coming
through to Washington, there is rea-
son to believe that the military tele-
graph line is now working into the
Chinese capital. Some delays are ex-
pected at first, as the line is simply an
insulated wire aid on the ground, there
being not enough timber in that sec
tton to erect it ON poles, until lumber
or iron poles are shipped in. Notice
also was received at the department
today that the Taku-Che Foo cable is
in working order. 1t is thought there
will soon be a direct and reliable line
of wire communication from the war
department to General Chaffee's head
quarters at Pekin.
IMPORTANT DISPATCH NOT MADE
PUBLIC.
The most important dispatch of the
day was not made public by the war
department, but was the subject OF an
extended conference at n White
house this morning between the presl-
Dent, Secretary Root ana AcCng sec
rotary of State Adee. Tt was from
enera Chaffee, and arrived about the
same time as the casualty list of the
Pekin fight. It was dated the 18th
and, therefore, was not a reply to the
message OF inquiry sent to General
Chaffee by the war department on
Monday night. Still it answered a
number OF the inquiries contained in
that message. 1t dealt entirely with
military operations and conditions.
While it cannot be said to have con-
tanned any bad news, and recorded the
brilliant successes of the American
troops who have borne themselves so
calamity in h assault on Pekin, it
contained enough a to the unsettled
conditions in China, and the prospect
of long and arduous work in restoring
peace, to form the subject for a con-
sultation of some hours between the
president and his advisors.
It was hoped in official circles that