The National tribune., 1900-08-09
"Department of State.

washington, August L, l3OU.
I'm reply to a suggestion of Lii Hung
Chang that the Ministers might be sent
under safe escort to Tien Tsin, provided
the powers would engage not to march OF
Iekin. the Secretary of State replied Oh
the Both of July:
This Government will not enter into
any arrangement regarding disposition OF
treatment of Legations without first hay
ing free communication with Minister Con
ger. Responsibility for their protection
rests upon the Chinese Government
power to protect and to open communica-
ton. This is insisted on
This message was delivered by Mr.
GOodnow on the 31st to Viccroy Ii, who
then inquired whether, if free cOmmuni
cation were established between Ministers
and their Governments, ii could be ar
ranged that the powers should not ad-
vance on Pekin, pending negotiations
TO this inquiry the following reply was
sent on the 1st of August:
'Goodnow. Consul General. Shanghai
81 do not think it expedient to submit
the proposition of Earl Lii to the other
powers. Free communication with oul
representatives in Pekin is demanded as q
matter of absolute right, and not as Il fa-
vor. Since the Chinese Government adj
mits that il possesses the power to give
friendly attitude by denying it. No nego'
fiations seem advisable until the Chinese
Government shall have put the diplomatic
representatives of the powers in full and
free communication with their respective
Governments and removed all danger to
their lives and liberty. We would urge
Earl Ii earnestly to advise the Imperial
authorities of China to place themselves
in friendly communication and co-opera-
ton with the relief expedition They are
assuming Il heavy responsibility in act.
ing otherwise.
"'(Signed) HAY
"Yon will communicate this information
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs"
This goes TO the heart of the matter
with directness, a freshness, yigor that
is.a new clement in Old World diplomacy
and particularly in that connected with
the Orient. 1t is straightforward Ameri,
shifting, tergiversating, cvading policy OF
the oldest and crafticst diplomats in the
world. Past masters as they are in all
the arts and tricks Of stiffness, they can.
not dodge this. We don't ask any favors
or concessions, and humbugging ceremo
malls or elaborate etiquet. We demand
as our absolute and unequivocal right, be
fore anything else is done, the restoration
of our Minister to free communication
with his Government and all his rights and
privileges as our representative in Pc
King. Unless this is done Immediately
the Chinese Government must take the
consequences, and they will be very seri
Gus.
This is the first time in centuries that
the Chinese Government has received sucI
a sQuare-cut ultimatum.
Most Of the diplomacy OF this century
has been devoted to tedious wrangliny oye,
diplomatic etiquet-oyer the reception Of
the Ministers by this or that grade q,
Mandarins, whether they should be al
lowed into the actual presence of the En-
peror, whether they should perform the
kow-tow, or merely bow, whether the pre
sentation should take place in the hall de
voted to receiving tribute from subject Ma
tions,. or in the actual throne-room, etc.