The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-31
RUSSIA'S IMPORTANT NOTE.
That Lii Hung Chang should Not
BE Restrained.


Washington. Aug. 3O.-The course of the
United States in the pending Chinese ne
gotiatiCns was made more clear to-day
by an important note, embodying a COM
municaion from Russia and advising the
Powers of the action taken by that gov
ernment.
The Russian note declared the interdic-
ton of LII Hung Chang's communication
with the Chinese government as "inex-
plcable," and asked that the Powers
direct their commanders to vacate the
order. The United States concurs with
the position of Russia, and informs the
Powers that instructions have been sent
to our representative in China in the
spirit of the Russian note Following is
the official text of the communication:
Telegram sent to the representatives
of the United States at Berlin. Vienna
Paris, London, Rome, Toxic and st. Pc
tersburg.
Department of State, Washington,
Aug. "a, 1S00-The following not was re-
ceived by us from the charge of the Rus
sian government at this capital. Aug. IT:
l have just received a communication
from the imperial government informing
me of the resolution of the admirals of the
allied fleets interdicting the pIenipotenti-
ary of the Chinese government, Lii Hung
Chang, from all communication with the
Chinese authorities in the event of his ar
rival at Taku.
" This resolution being inexplicabIe. in
view of the fact that all of the Powers
have recognized the utility of admitting
his Oi Hung Chang's) services, in the
eventual negotiations for peace, and es-
pecially because it would be impossible
for him to fulfill his mission in the char
acter of Chinese plenipotentiary, if this
were done, it would be desirable that the
interested governments should give orders
to countermand the above mentioned de-
cision.
Inquiry of Admiral Remey, command
ing out fleet az Taku, was first answered
that no such resolution had been adopt
ed. He now cables that the admirals
have agreed to write the dean of the
legations in Pekin instructions in case Lii
Hung Chang should arrive at Taku. and
meantime not to allow him to communi-
cate with Chinese shore authorities.
Remey dissented from the last PROPOSE
ton.
I'VE take the same view expressed in
the Russion note. In the interests of
peace and effective presentation of just
demands of all Powers against China, ii
seems important that the Chinese pleni-
potentiary should be able to communicate
both with his own government and its
military commandant, whose action will
be necessary to any suspensions of his
tilities as required in my kilograms to you
of 22d. Chinese minister here is with
out powers or advces. Ii Hung Chang
is prima facie authorized by imperial de-
cree to negotiate and is the only repre-
sentative of responsible authority in
China, so far as we are advised. We
have instructed our representative in
China in the spirit of the Russian note.
ANY misunderstanding or divergent ac-
tion on the subject by the representatives
tunate, and we would be glad to learn
from other Powers If there are reasons
not known to us which in their judgment
should lead to a view different from that
which we take.
"You will communicate this to the min
lister of foreign affairs. Awaiting early re-
sponse. (Signed) Adee, Acting"