The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-23
ANSWER FOR CHINA
UNITED STATES CANNOT NEGoTI-
ATE AT PRESENT.
NONE WITH WHOM TO TREAT.
CHINESE GOVERNMENT SEEMS
PRACTICALLY NoN-EXIsTANT.

Remey Also Sent the NevVs-Capt.
Reilly Killed at the Head of His
Battery-MessaSe From General
Chafee Showed Conditions to lie
Chaotic.
Washington. Aug. 22.-After long con-
ference at the White House to-day, the
reply of the United States to the appllca
ton of Ii Hung Chang for the appoint
ment of peace commissioners was COM
pleted and a copy of the reply sent TO
the Chinese minister, Mr.. WI, to be for
warded to Earl Lii. The state department
made definite announc ement that the re-
ply had been conveyed to Mr.. WI, but
added to Its official utterance that the
correspondence would not be made public
until tomorrow morning. A copy of the
reply was sent TO other governments rep
resented in China.
The American reply IS chiefly character
lied by its firm tone and its brevity. Its
keynote is the Presidents attitude as laid
down in the American not of July 5, and
there is the strlctest adherence to the
points enunciated at the 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 have had part in
Its preparation, that rejection is probably
too strong a term to apply to it.
The United States places itself in the
position of being ready at the proper time
to take up peace negotiations but in the
present unsettled condition of affairs in
the empire, the lack of knowledge as to
who are the responsible rulers, and what
constitutes the actual Chinese govern
mcnt, it is made clear that the time has
not arrived for pursuing the negotiations
proposed. The formal courtesy of dplo-
matte procedure is preserved, but at the
same time the entire tenor of the docu-
ment is one of force and firmness.
The government of the United States
takes the position that negotiations are
impossible with government which can
not prevent host lities against the forces
of the Powers, which were sent to the
Chinese capital to save their envoys. As
long as attacks are made on the troops
of this and other governments, such as
and the attacks in the vicinity of Tien
Tsin, it is deemed that the Chinese gov
ernnent is either unwilling or unable to
prevent these hosti tiles, and for this
reason negotiations must be deferred. 1t
is stated, however. that the reply Is a
step in the direction of opening negotia-
tions.
LIS Authority Not Questioned.
No question is raised as TO the author
ity of Ii Hung Chang 10 represent his
governme ent, but it is said that his ere
dentia's. like those of all others who
come together for the pur pose of nego.
tiating terms of Ieace, will be examined
by the respective repres natives. TIE
United States, however. in communicate
ing with Mr.. WI recognizes him as the
official representative of the Chinese gov
ernment
Minister WI received the reply early
this afternoon. and work was immediate
ly begun on its translation. first from the
Ameri an text to the Chinese and then
from Oh nese into the cipher. This took
some time, and it was not until late in
the day that the reply was actually dis
patched
ConGer Wires Again.
The most important development OF the
day as to the actual conditions i'm Pekin.
came late in the afternoon, when the state
department made public dispatch from
Minister Conger. dated Pekin, only three
days ago. 1t was given out as follows
"Pekin, Aug. 19.-To the Secretary of
State, Washington The entire city, with
the exception of the Imperial Palace, is
occupied by japanese, Russian, British
American and French troops 1t is being
apportioned into districts for police su-
pervision. The Chinese army fed The
imperial family and the court have gore
westward. probably to Sian Flu. in the
province of Shen ST. No representatives. |
of the Chinese government are in sight |
in Pekin and the conditions are chaotic.
THE palace Is expected to be taken i'm |
mediately. Many missionaries have start
ed for home, while Others remain in
charge of the Christian refugees, number
ing about 1900.
(Signed) "Conger."
Mr.. Conger makes no mention of his |
desire to come home, and it is stated OFF,
cialiy that this government has made no |
suggestion that he return TO this country. |
Report From Admiral Remey.
The military situation was Of quite as
much interest In to-day's developments |
as was the diplomatic. Admiral Remey |
early in the morning, bringing |
the story of the Pekn operations up 20 |
the lbtn III Geklnt ana reporting tDe dedAn !
of the gallant Capt. Reilly in the final |
assault on the outer walls of Pekin. Ad- |
miral Remey's dispatch is as follows;
"Che Foo, Aug. q, Taku, Aug. 20
Dickinson command Is landing to-day. |
Pekn 18th all except Imperial city clear |
ed of Chinese troops, American troops |
first TO enter Imperial City, have pene-
trated to the gates of the palace. Capt. |
Reilly, with artillery, killed on 18th.
Morning 18th Sixth Cavalry and about
iOo English and japanese dispersed 1,0OO |
Boxers eight miles outside of Tien Tsin. |
About 100 Chinese killed, five Americans
Chaffees losses, six killed,
thirty wounded, two days fighting.
(Slgned) "Remey."
The navy department understands from |
The reference 10 the palace that the Amer
can troops after penetrating the Imperial
city, when che dispatch was sent, attack
ID the Forbidden City. This is the inner
enclosure Of the Imperial City.
The signal Office contributed its quota
10 the news in the following dispatch from
Mej Screven, chief signal officer of the
"a xpedltion. dated Pekin Aug. II;
"City occupied. All we'll"
"screyen."
The Signal Corps work.
The signal Office says that while this
dispatch was several days In coming
through 10 Washing ton, there Is reason to
believe that the military telegraph lino