Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-07-26
Next Move Is for China to Accept
or Reject Our Terms.
M'KlNLEY REPLIES TO APPEAL.
Tho President Expressly States That His
Mediation Ia Subject to the Approval OF
the Powers and the Foreign Min
listers Must Be Produced.

"'' i''iJ "hp't''' Wv VA
nese emperor's appeal for mediation
and the correspondence given public
ity makes it appear that the next
move is for the Chinese government
1t is to accept or to reject our terms
at once, and in either case the an
swer must convey tidings of the state
Of affairs at Pekin and the welfare
Of the legatoners. The belief is not
concealed here that the chances for
successful mediation are slight. Me-
diation cannot be forced upon a party
to cause; 1t must be acceptable to all
the parties. II the United States is to
mediate in China's interest she must
first secure the assent of oil the pow
ers who have suffered in life or prop
erty at Pekin. The difficulties in the
way Of such an undertaking are likely
to be many and serious, in view OF the
exhibition Of feeling in Europe. But
II Ia said here that the United States
will cheerfully undertake the task,
provided its conditions are met. II II
does not succeed in inducing the Eu-
ropean powers to be lenient in their
treatment of the imperial government
Of China the United States govern
ment will not be drawn into further
hOstilities after we have taken care of
our own affairs, but we will withdraw,
taking care, however, to let 1t be un-
derstood that this government will
not allow its proper interests in Chi
ma to be injured by the action of any
OF the powers that may choose to re-
main obdurate.
At least one Of the greatest powers
"a under strong suspicion here Of act.
ing cold-bloodedly and without regard
to sentiment or anything more than
the most material of considerations
IT Is believed here that this power is |
quietly taking measures to drop out |
OF the league at Tien Tsn and con-
duct n campaign on its own account
against Pekin, and 1t is even sus-
pected that this power is already
moving troops toward the Chinese
capital.
One fact regarded as now beyond
need OF further demonstration, in
view OF the Chinese appeal is that the
Chinese officials at the coast ports are
actually in communication with
whatever remains of the imperial gov.
eminent at Pckin, and the text of |
Kwang Su's appeal appears to cstab.
fish the fact that the Chinese govern
ment itself Is sanctioning the resist
hnce to the international advance
upon pekin.
The state department and the Chi
nese legation substantially agree in
the estimate Of six to eight days as
the time necessary to get reply to
the presidents answer to the appeal
OF the Chinese government. Accord
ing to the best information here, mr.
gent messages are being transmitted
between Pekin and Shanghai by the
"hying express mentioned in Consul
Fowler's cablegrnm few days ago.
This, according to the Chinese, is a
ralnv eucfo,n nf ountoJ ,na.ea,, ma -, |
similar to the old pony service across
the plains, and is used when the wire
communication is interrupted. The
relay riders make about 200 miles n
day. II is 400 miles from Shanghai to
Pekin, and this seems to agree very
well with the speed made in forward
Ing and returning the Conger mes
sage.
Assuming from Sheng's dispatch
that movement was on foot on the
18th to get the foreign ministers
started from Pekin to 'rien Tsin IN
der escort of imperial troops, the
state department would not be sur
prised to get definite news of them
from the headquarters of the allied
forces in a short time. The distance
from 1ien Tsin to Pekin is rs miles
and ut this season the trip is usually
made by road from Pekin to Tong
Choo, a point on the Pe-llo 19 miles
below the capital, and the remainder
OF the way by boat. This trip now
would take four days, supposing the
escort of imperial troops met with no
resistance from the insurgents. If
the movement from Pekin was made
within two days after Sheng's infor-
nation was received it would be posi-
BILE that the legationers and their es-
cort are now in touch with the head
quarters of the allies, always suppos-
ing that nothing serious happened to
the party on the road.
Mckinley Replies to Chinas Appeal
Washington, July 25.--ln reply to
the appeal of the Chinese emperor
for United States mediation to stop
the present state of affairs in the en-
pire, President Mckinley directed a
note to Minister WI, for transmission
to the emperor at Pekin, agreeing to
place the good Offices of the United
States government at the emperor's
disposal. The president has asked for
conditions precedent to mediation
quite as valuable as those laid down
in Europe, yet he has so tempered bis
rpa,tirpments ne IN moEo than, ,,n.v |