Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-04
No Material Change at Pehn Re-
ported.
POWERS SEND REPLIES TO RUSSIA
Final Action of All Not Expected
for Several Days.
DISPATCH FROM CHAFFEE

cupied q week IN tnelr trdnSHiissioh iAoAl
Pekin, according to the estimate or the
State Department, so that Mr.. Conser
message marks distinct betterment Of the
means Of communication. Beside, II IN
cludes the date Of dispatch, something the
department has been trying inenectuaiiy
to have included for many weeks. The sup
position Is that this particular message
came down from Pekin to Tien Tsin by
courier, and was put on the wires either at
that point OF at Taku. Acting Secretary
Hill deciddd to make no statement as to
the contents of the message beyond the
simple one that Mr.. Conger's communlca-
ton did not mark any material change In
the situation in Pekin.
Powers Will Address Russia.
1t appears that whatever responses are
to be made by the powers to the PROPOSE
ton to eyacuate Pekin are expected to be
addressed to the government of Russia ana
not to our own State Department. Ot
course the Russian government in turn Will
notify the United States government, as
well as all the other governments con-
cerned as to the nature of the responses
Our government has led the way In thls
sort of notification, and ii has gone further,
in publishing its communications.
Correction of n MiscOnceptiOn.
The disappointment expressed on account
Of the failure of all the powers to respond
promptly to the memorandum of the United
States with reference to the Russian COM
municaticn is founded on a misconceptions
While some of the powers, two or three,
have responded with communications TO
this government, it was not essential lot
any of them to do SO. The communications
of the powers with reference to the with
drawal of troops properly belong to Russia.
The United States has made no PROPOSE
ton to the powers for the withdrawal or
the troops from China nor has 1t joined
in the Russian proposition. The commune
cation of the State Department was In
reply to Russia, and. because 1t was sug-
gestive to the other powers, 1t was trans
mitted as a memorandum to our represen-
tatives at the several seats of government.
While this communication makes ob1ectioh
to the Russian plan and suggests an agree
ment between the powers by which RUSSIA
may be induced to modify her policy Oh
withdrawal, the proper response to thls
suggestion would be conveyed in commun1-
cations from the powers, not to the United
States but to Russia, and the responses re-
ceived by our State Department, Whlie
gratifying. are not demanded by the cir
CumStanceS. 1t Is SOMEWHAT pei W
officials here that the Russian announce
ment of policy should be spoken OF so COM
monty in discussion as If it were the joint
policy Of Russia and the United states,
whereas the communication of the United
States distinctly objected to the immediate
withdrawal of the troops, while stating
that we would have to withdraw also II
Russia persisted in doing so.
1t is stated that up to the present less
than a majority Of the powers interested In
the Chinese question have made response
to the Russian proposal so far as our own
government is advised, and our omclais
agree with the general tenor of the Euro
mean dispatches this morning In the con-
clusion that final action on the part or all
the powers may not be had for several days
at least.
This Governments Attitude.
It is not for the United States govern
ment to press for any action that "ould
lead to immediate evacuation of Pekin, nav
ing already indicated its belief that bet
ter settlement could be effected by remain
ing there But everything now depends on
the action of Russia, the attitude of the
other nations being negative, and If she
does not hasten to carry out her announced
purpose to withdraw the troops the other
governments will probably be content, cher
ishing the hope that in the meantime some
kind of Chinese government can be re-
established in Pekin, with which the powers
may negotiate for final settlement.
Lii Hung Chang's Attempt.
Ii Hung Chang's attempt to secure i'm
perial warrant for the institution of peace
negotiations through himself and the chi
nese notables referred to in the European
Ia1
right direction, while On the other land
some disauiet has been caused by the re-
port that the internationals in Pekin have
been arresting some of the members OF the
tsunp II yamen who were seeking to open
negotiations and re-establish the govern
ment There Is no disposition here to con-
done the offenses of any Of these Chinese
officials who may have participated In the
outrages In Pekin, but 1t is questioned
whether the present is an opportune time
to administer punishment.
Dispatch From Chafee.
The War Department has been concerned
over it's inability to either reach General
Chaffee or to get dispatches from him. A
number of important dispatches have been
sent the general which the department Is
anxious he shall receive at once in order
to guide his action in the present crisis.
General Barry, VINO can DO TedCHeu at
Taku, was instructed to spare pains
or expense to forward dispatches to and
from General Chaffee. The department
feels that his views on the situation are
necessary for a correct disposition of the
International questions that have arisen
since the occupation of Pekin.
The War Department today received a
dispatch from General Chaffee. Although
1t is undated 1t bears evidence Of having
beer sent at recent date.
HOstilities Practically Ceased.
The following is the message from Gen.
eral Chaffee In regard to the military situa-
ton:
TAKU, China (no date).
Adjutant General. Washington:
| Written report Of operations up to RELIEF
Of legations win be forwarded as soon az
possible. Present conditions are that hos
tiitties have practically ceased.
] Only occasional shots are fred from cover
i