The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-08-29
Our Forces In Pekin. The En-.
tire City Occupied.

Washington. Aug 22.-Aher q
long conference at tho White House
today TIE reply of the United Ststes
to the opp icasion of Lii Hung Chang
for the appointment of peace commis.
aioners was completed and copy 10
the reply sent to tho Chinese minister,
Mr. Wa, to be forwarded to Earl Ii.
BRIEF BUT FIRM.
The American reply is chiefly char.
scterized by its firm tone and its
brevity Its keynote is the presi.
dents attitude as laid down in the
American note Of July 8, and there
is the strictest adherences to the
points en9nciated at that time
While the document is open to the
construction, Of being a rejection of
Li Hung Chang's proposition for i'm
mediate negotiation. yet it is stated By
those who have read the answer with
Cure and have had a part in it's pre-
para,ion tha. rejection is probably too
strong term to apply TO it The
United States places itselfin the posi-
tion of being ready a. 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 responsible
rulers and what constitutes the actua!
Chinese government. it is made
clear that ,ae time has not arrived for
pursuing the negotiation proposed
The formal courtesy of diplomatic
procedure is preserved. but at the
same time the entire tenor of the
document is ono of force and firm
ness The government of the Un;
ted 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 Chinese
capital to ssve their envoys Az
long a. attacks are made on the
troops Of this aud other governments
which have followed the occupation
OF Pekin and the attacks 10 the vicin
ity Of Tien Tsin, it is de med that
the Chinese government is either un.
willing aud unable to prevent these
hostilities and for this reason negotia
tions must be deferred 1t is stated,
however, that the reply is q step in
the direction of opening negotis.
tions No questions 10 raised as to
the authority Of Ii hung Chang to
represent his government but it is
ssid that bic credentials. like those
OF oil others who come together for
The purpose Of negotiating terms os
peace. will be examined by the
respective representatives and the
validity Of the pspers of each repre-
sentative determined BY that body.
The United States. however. 10 com.
municating with M WI recognizes
him 80 the official representative of
the Chirese government
The most important development
OF the day as to the actual condi-
tions in Pekin, came late in the after.
noon when the state depsrtm eut
made public Q dispatch from Mr.
Conger, dated at Pekin only three
days ago 1t was given out Uith the
following statement
ENTIRE CITY OCCUPIED
Toe state department authorizes
the announcement of the receipt at
an early hour this Wednesday J
morning through the consul at Che.
foo. of a telegram from Mr. Conger in
the department cipher to the follow.
ing effect
Pekin. Aug l9.
Secretary Of State. Washington:
The entire city with the exception
OF the imperial palace is occupied by
Japanese. Russians. British. Ameri.
cans end French 1t is being appor
toned into districts for police super.
vision. Tho Chinese army fled.
The imperial family and the court
have gone westward probably to
Sian Flu in the province of Shen 81
No representatives of the Chinese
government are In sight of Pekin and
the conditions are chaotic The
palace is expected to be tsken I'm
medistely Many missionaries have
started for home. while others remain
in charge OF the Chris,isn refugees,
numbering about 1000
90. Conger.
Minister Conger makes no men
tion OF his desire to come home, and
1t is stated officially that this govern
ment has made no suggestion that he
return to this country
REPORT FROM REMEY.
The military situstion was of
quite 90 muoh interest in todsy's
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