The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-21
Ii ASKS FOR PEACE
HE WANTS THE UNITED STATES TO
NAME A PEACE ENVOY.
THE REPLY NOT GIVEN OUT
IT is BELIEVED LIS oVERTUREs
WILL BE REJECTED.

with by the Chinese-This Country
Was Then Ready to Negotiate and
Named Conditions, but They Were
Decentralization of Late
Dispatches.
Washington, Aug. 2O.-The American
reply to China's latest appeal for a cessa-
ton of hostilities, received to-day from
Ii Hung Chang, has not yet been made
known, and it is likely that the matter
will be one of the main subjects of con-
sideraton at the cabinet meeting to-mor-
row But there is reason to believe that
the overtures will in effect, be rejected,
on the ground that the conditions laid
down in the American note of Aug. 12 have
not been complied with, and until com
piled with. the governments course must
90 on without reference to China's de-
sres for a halt in the proceedings.
The dispatch of Aug u said specifically
that the United States were ready to en-
ter into an agreement between the Pow
ers and the Chinese government for a ces-
sation of hostilities on condition that the
relief forces should be permitted ito en-
ter Pekin unmolested' and escort the le-
gationers therefrom under such circum-
stauces as the commanding general might
lay down. But up to the present time,
there is no evidence that the allied forces
are unmolested at Pekin, or have received
the sanction of the Imperial government
10 convey the legationers to Tien Tsin
without further trouble and under the
Il
general. On the contrary. all of the dis
patches indicate that the allies are meet
ing stubborn resistance, and there is an
entire lack of compliance with the condi-
tons laid down by the United States in
the dispatch of Aug. u.
As stated, however the government has
given no authoritative statement of its
purpose, in reply to Chinas application of
to-day, ana there is still slight chance
that complete compliance with the de-
mands of Aug. y may be announced in
the Pekin dispatches before the final de-
termination on the reply is made. But
the disposition tonight is clearly in the
line indicated.
China's latest application for peace ne
gouatons was received early to-day at
the Chinese legation and was transmit
ted ny MIR. WI to the state department.
Secretaries Hay and Root were out of the
city, but Acting Secretary of State Adee
went over she subject with the President
Earl LIS request is that the United
States shall name Minister Conger or
some other official, to act as peace envoy
bp of Ia
pressed his willingness to go to such point
as the powers may desire and under the
limitations made, it is thought that Pekin
or Tien Tsin would be selected for the
negotiations.
The Chinese envoy proposed no terms
to the withdrawal of troops and made
no other suggestion as to what was to
come before the commission, his sole
anxiety being to secure the cessation of
hostilities. The applica ton is understood
also to have been made to the Powers IN
the hope that if all would name a conf
missioner, there would be general coun-
Gil of peace between Ii Hung Chang, on
the one hand. and the several represen-
tatives of the nations on the other.
Aside from the fact that the conditions
Of Aug. 12 have not yet been compiled
with by China, it is probable that this
government would desire to take suffi-
Cient time to learn what the other Pow
ers intend doing on the same line, as all
are acting in unison. Moreover, there are
some unexplained features of Ii Hung
Fhangs application, one of them being
that while he asks the allies to cease hos
Titles, he gives no assurance that he has
the power to make the Chinese army and
the rebeilious Boxers cease their hosti
tiles
The situation at Pekin was made more
clear to-day from many sources. The
latest advice appears to. be that from
Consul Fowler at Che Foo, repeating a
dispatch received from Consul Ragsdale
at Tien Tsin. The latter reports Chinese
troops surrounded in palace grounds" The
japanese legation received a dispatch of
the same general tenor, but more in de-
tail, stating that the Chinese troops re-
treated on the 18th within the imperial
palace, and that they were surrounded
there, with the japanese military head
quarters located in the Japanse legation.
Ndmiral Remey also transmits an authen-
uc report from Pekin on the 18th saying,
Troops moving on the imperial city"
These several dispatches from different
sources establish clearly that the imperial
palace and grounds We're under siege.
But not one of the dispatches is clear as
10 how late this condition of affairs tx-
listed. The Fowler dispatch is the latest
10 be received and is dated the Goth, but
probably that is the date on which II left
Ticn Tsin. The japanese dispatch also
refers 10 The Chinese taking refuge in the
imperial palace on the 18th, but does not
bring the situation beyond that day. So
mat the latest information, while show
ing the imperial city is surrounded, does
not disclose the issue of this situation,
nl IA Iac tod
To-day's dispatches seem to make clear
that the Emperor and the Empress
powager have made their escape from
Pekiu. and that about the only present
service of the imperial palace and grounds
Is as an asylum in which the demoral-
ized Chinese soldiers are making last
stand The Japanese legations advices to-
DAY showed that the banners of the I'M
pcrial cortege were seen leaving Pekin on
me 18th, and that probably the Empress
bowager, as we'll as the Emperor, had
LETT the city. Consul General Goodnow
advised the state department that ne had
Information from Chinese sources that the
Empress Dowager had left Pekin.
The attitude which the International
forces will observe toward the Emperor
ana Empress Dowager Is understood 10
nave received official consideration among
ile Powers, resulting from a request ny
the southern viceroys that no personal
iudlgnity be shown to Chna'e rulers. In
response TO this. Il is quite generally un-
uerstood that there will be no personal IN