The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1900-08-24
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
The Cabinet at Washington is Face
to Face With a Puzzling
Situation.
The FUTURE OF CHINA IN THE BALANCE,

Practically Headiess, With No One to
Speak for 1t with Absolute Assurance
The Allies Have Delicate Task Con-
fronting Them.
Washington, Aug. 22.-The cabinet
session yesterday practically opened
the consideration of the momentuous
questions growing out of the capture
of Pellin and the war in China. Tn
til yesterdays session the absorbing
question had been the safety of Min.
lister Conger and the legationers at
Pekin. Now, however, that has given
place to problems of a more intricate
and far-reaching character, touching
the very existence of the Chinese en-
pire and the part which the American
government is to take in the recon-
struction of that country.
The Chinese situation.
The meeting was devoted entirely
to the Chinese situation. Secretaries
Hay and Root, who have been most ac-
tive in directing affairs, were absent
from the city. so that the attendance
was small comparatively, the presi-
dent having with him Secretaries,
Gage, Hitchcock and Wilson and Post
master-General Charles Emory Smith.
LIS Application Rejected.
Several questions were awaiting at
tention. First of these was the appli-
cation of Ii Hung Chang for the APP
pointment of Minister Conger or some
other commissioner to negotiate for
the cessation of hostilities The de-
cision arrived at was to reject the ap-
piication, and reply of this charac-
Ter will be sent TO Minister WI, to Le
forwarded TO Ii Hung Chang.
fEus China Government:
II moving cause for the action
taken is that this government is at
present very much in the dark as to
whether there is any existing govern
ment in China. With the capital
in the hands of the allies the
emperor and empress dowager fugi-
tives in hiding, and the entire govern
mental fabric paralyzed, there is no
evidence of any authority adequate tc
conduct negotiations and secure re-
suits which would be final and bind
ing.
An Enormous Headless Affair.
II was stated by members of the
cabinet that the Chinese establish
lnent, instead of being a government,
appears to be an enormous headless
affair, without knowledge of what is
for its best good and without power
. e.. A.. -
nized ruler in fight, no one seems to
know who, if anybody, is directing it's
affairs. AS China is an absolute mon.
archy, without any executive branch,
the emperor and empress dowager are
still all-powerful, and practically they
are the empire of China.
VIII Act WITH Extreme Caution.
ditions the United States will act
with extreme caution in whatever
steps it may take toward solution
of the pending problems.
VIII Keep Armed Forces in China.
In the meantime there is reason to
believe that the United States and all
the other powers interested will keep
their armed forces on the ground so
that order may be maintained and at
least a semblance of stable govern
ment brought out of the existing
chaos.
Polite Language of Diplomacy.
The reply of this government to the
appeal of the viceroys of Nanking and
Human that no indignities be offered
the emperor and empress dowager, is
a formal acknowledgment of the re-
ceipt of the communication with a
satisfactory assurance that no indig-
mites will be offered the persons of
their majesties. This reply is couched
in the polite language of diplomacy,
but it is understood that il does not
in any way commit the government
to refrain from imposing on the en-
peror and empress dowager any penal
ty that subsequently might be decided
upon in case il is proved that they
were directly responsible for the re-
cent atrocities.
This question of fixing responsible
ties where they belong and imposing
any punishment that may be deemed
fitting has not received formal consid-
GRAFTON yet.
No Barrier to Punishment.
The answer with which the two vice.
roys' appeal is met, accordingly, is a
| diplomatic assurance that the rights
of the emperor and empress dowager
will be protected but does not inn
pose any barrier TO proper punish
ment, such as may be sanctioned by
civilized usage, for any offense which
hereafter may be held to call for an
| accounting.
The Question of Responsibility.
This is the Interpretation given the
1 reply by cabinet official last night.
The question of responsibility will
/ 49, - L. ,,,& IL