Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-12
Government Willing to Let Ii Have
a Warship.
DESTROYS OF REACHING SETTLEMENT
American Life and Property Must
Be Made Safe.
REPLY TO MINISTER WI

The United States government is pushing
| forward steadily toward the beginning OF
| negotiations with the Chinese government
| for a settlement of the present troubles.
| An evidence of its purpose was found in
Its decision communicated today to Minister
| Wu to facilitate by every means in his
power the journey Of Ii Hung Chang to
| Pekin. This carries with it the placing Of
| warship at his service. II request OF
| that kind is made by Sir Robert Hart. So
| far 1t has not been made, and the State
| Department officials do not believe that 1t
| will be. 1t is believed that Sir Robert
| Hart will be able to find a merchant
| steamer more suitable than a warship for
the purpose. Then. as 1t is presumed that.
similar requests hsve been made upon
| European governments, the application may
! be made to one of their commanders. How
| ever, 1t is said that our government will
| even go to the extent OF providing a war
ship, IL by doing the initiation of peace
negotiations can be FASTENED. 1t is not
| known that any of the powers is prepared
| to object to Ii Hung Changs visit to
Pekin. 1t is entirely unlikely that any OBJ
| lection would be made If he goes forward
| under the United States flag.
| 1t now appears that the apparent delay
| In beginning negotiations at once with LII
| Is explained in the last sentence in the de-
| partments reply published yesterday. to
| his application. In that, the hope was ex-
pressed that 1t would transpire that LIS
| credentials ARE full and authoritative, not
| only for negotiation, but to enable him
/ without further delay to give assurance
that the life and property of Americans
| will henceforth be respected throughout the
Chinese empire
Killing of Americans Continues.
| While these efforts are being made by the
| Chinese government to begin negotiations
| the killing of American citizens and the de-
struction Of their property continues. Four
| provinces in China are In a disturbed con-
| dition, and Shanghai itself is menaced by
| the disorderly elements. In none of these
provinces is the life property of
American safe, and the outrages are being
| perpetrated even today. Negotiations can
| not be thought Of while these things con-
| tinue, If there is the least possibility OF
check ag them through the influence of the
Chinese government. Therefore this state
ment is made in the departments reply to
| Ii Hung Chang. 1t is gathered from the
press reports that the viceroy has already
| set about the restoration OF order as
| shown by his ominous note OF warning to
! the Boxers. but so far the State Depart
ment has not been advised that anything
| has been accomplished in that direction.
Peace Negotiations.
If by edict or by the action OF Ii Hung
Chang and his fellow viceroys, with their
| armed forces, the condition laid down by
the President can be met, negotiations for
a settlement may begin at once, though 1t
is not a part of the governments purpose
| to be the first to break the harmony that
has up to this moment existed among the
allies. In that case Mr.. Conger would sure
| ly be one Of the representatives of the
United States.
Whether or not Pekn will be the seat Of
the negotiate has not yet been deter
| mined. 1t seems probable that in any event
the last act in the negotiations, namely,
the signatures of the treaties which must
bind China for the future, will take place
at the capital.
The Order to Ii Hung Chang.
The following is the text of the communi-
cation handed to Acting Secretary of State
Hill yesterday by the Chinese minister:
"Cablegram from Earl Ii Hung Chang,
dated September 8, 1900, transmitted by the
Chinese minister at London under date of
September 10 and received by Minister Wu
the night of the last mentioned date.
Il have just received a telegram dated
September from the governor of Shan
tung, transmitting dispatch addressed to
me by the privy council from Ta-tung-fu
(ShansD on August 80.
4" The privy council to Ii Hung Chang.
envoy plenipotentiary grand secretary Of
state and viceroy of Shi Ii.
"'On the third day Of the sixth moon Of
Kwang-Hsu. twenty-sXth year august
2D, the following imperial edct was is
sued:
1--WE hereby command Ii Hung Chang,
envoy plenipotentiary, with full discretion->
AIRY powers, and grand secretary of state, to
proceed at once by steam vessel to Pekn,
and there to associate himself with Prince
Ching in discussing and dealing with all
pending questions. Let there be no delay.
Respect this
The above has been communicated to me
in obedience to the imperial will"
(Another communication from the privy
council states an edIct has already been
issued commanding Sir Robert Hart to con-
fer with Ohe representatives of the foreign
nations for the loan of a steam vessel to
convey Ii Hung Chang without delay TO
Pekin, where he is to associate himself with
Prince Ching in dealing with all pending
questions. There was also copy of an
edict for Ii Hung Chang, which the in
spector general of customs tSir Robert
HART was directed to depute an official to
deliver in person to Earl Ii. The docu-
ments referred to have been dispatched by
post. but on account of the roundabout
method employed and fearing a mistake or
failure might arise the edicts are respect
lively Transcribed (as above). On receipt OF
the same the Shantung government is re-
quested to transmit them by telegraph to
Envoy LID
Having received imperial orders. urging
my speedy departure for the north, it be-
hooves me to make arrangements to start
on my journey soon. Please inform Secre-
tary of State and request instructions be
telegraphed to the United States command
ers at Tien Tsin and Pekin to cooperate
in affordng protection if required.
VIII he Pleased to Assist.
To the above communication Acting Sec
retary of State Hill handed Mr.. Wu the
following reply:
"In reply to the request Of Earl Ii that
instructions be telegraphed to United States
commanders at Tien Tsin and Pekn to CO.
operate in affording him protection IL re-
quired on his journey to Pekin, the gov
ernment Of the United States, so far as it's
own forces are concerned, will be happy to
facilitate in every proper way the journey
IS al pak md will frStr NJ
its commanders.
Department of State, Washington. Septen,-
ber r. 1900.'