The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-07-28
WILL NOT DELAY ADVANCE
CHINESE PROPOSAL DECLINED At
WASHINGTON.
Secretary Hays Policy Unchanged =
Committeeman GoodnOw at Shanghai
Acting Under State Department Orders
in His Intercourse With Ii Hung
Chang.


Washington, July Filth United
States government has absolutely re-
fused the Chinese proposition to sus-
pend military operations against Pekin
in return for the delivery at Tien Tsin
OF the foreign ministers.
The announcement of this policy was
the first act of Secretary Hay after his
return to Washington this morning. A
long cable dispatch was sent to-day to
Rear Admiral Remey at Taku, and 1T
is believed that he was directed to act
in accordance with this determination
of the department.
The state department officers say
that they are pursuing an entirely con-
sistent course in this decision. They
point out that all of the bitter criticism
in the European papers directed against
the United States policy Is based upon
total misunderstanding of the funda-
mental principles which have governed
the actions of the department.
At no time, 1t is said, has the state
department permitted the belief that
the foreign ministers at Pekin were
alive to Interfere in the slightest de-
gree with the prosecution of It's mill
tary plans for reaching Pekln. On the
contrary, the news that the ministers
were alive was accepted by the state
department, not as conveying absolute
verify, but as an additional reason for
Fastening the relief column forward to
Pekins 1t was the departments con-
tention that, even though degree of
impTobability surrounded the Chinese
news, as to the state of affairs in Pc
kin, yet every consideration of human
ity, and policy demanded that 1t should
be given careful consideration, and
that it should be acted upon as If true,
provided that action went towards the
relief of the foreign ministers, and did
not operate to prevent the consumma-
ton of any of the objects laid down
in Secretary Hays identical note The
department is absolutely satisfied that
it's attitude was perfectly correct, and
that even European critics will, in time,
admit it.
Secretary Hays decision to decline
the last Chinese proposition was based
upon his determination to adhere
strictly to the conditions laid down in
the reply to the Chinese emperor's ap-
peal. The state department required
that the ministers at Pekln be put in
communication with their governments,
and the most significant condition of all
was that the Chinese authorities CO.
operate with the relief expedition for
the liberation of the legations. Until
these two things are done, the state de-
partment absolutely refuses to be led
into any arrangement looking to the
of the punishment of the
Chinese government such as the aban-
donment of the expedition to Pekin.
1t is not known at present just how !
this last proposition reached the state
1t Is inferred that it came
from several sources, but all are be-
lieved to be traceable to Ii Hung
Chang. Mr.. Goodnow, our consul gen
eral at Shanghai, is the nearest United
States official to Lii, and has acquitted
himself so well up to this point. that
the stat department does not hesitate
to make free use of him as a diplo-
matte agent. Therefore it NAV be in
teresting for che foreign contingent at
Shanghai who have complained
against Mr. Goodnow's intercourse with
Ii Hung Chang, to know that the con-
sui general is acting in strict accord
ince with the instructions of the state
department.
Secretary Hay has cabled him to put
himself in communication with Earl Ii
md to avail as far as possible of that
Chinese officers influence in securing
he objects plainly stated in that iden-
ical note. 1t does not follow that the
United States is bound to accept with
Tut question any statement made by
II. Mr.. Goodnow is a shrewd man and
he department of state feels itself able, |