The age-herald., 1900-08-21
Cabinet Will Consider Question
 at Today's Meeting.
SITUATION MADE MORE CLEAR
Chinef Government Makes Formal App pi .ation for Cessation of Hostilities Through Ii Hung Chang-Was
 Delivered Through MT. Wu

Washington, Aug. 2o.-The Chinese gov- ernment today made formal application through Ii Hung Chang, as It's envoy, for the appointment of American commis- sioner, Mr. Conger or some other official, to bring about the cessation of hostilties in China and the restoration of general peace. This, coming since the capture of Pekn, is the first showing of Chna's com plete weariness with the struggle and her desire to make terms.
 LI Hung Changs application came to the Chinese minister and delivered by him to the State Department at 10 o'clock this morning. Shortly afterwards the President was acquainted with China's de- sire. In the absence of Secretary Hay and Secretary Root, the latter having gone to New York; who have been most active in the Chinese matter, there was no oppor- tunity for a cabinet council
 Washington, Aug. 2O.-The American reply to China's latest appeal for a cessation of hostilities, received today from Ii Hung Chang, has not yet been made known, and it is likely that the matter will be one of the main subjects of consideration at the cabinet meeting tomorrow. But there is
 
 in effect be rejected on the ground that the conditions laid down in the American note of August 12, have not been complied with | and until compiled with, the government must proceed without reference to China's appeal for halt in the proceedings The dispatch of August F says specially that the United States was ready to enter into an agreement between the powers and the Chinese goVrenment for A cessation of hOS- tilities on condition that the relief forces be permitted ito enter Pekin unmolested" and escort the legationers therefrom But up to the present time there Is no evidence that the allied forces unmolested at Pe- kin or have received the sanction of the imperial government to convey the lega- tioners to Tien Tsin.
 China's Proposal
 China's last application for peace nego- tiations was received today, and MT. Wu and Acting Secretary of State Adee went over the subject with the President. Earl Lis request is that the United States name Minister Conger or some other official to act as peace envoy for the cessation of hostilities. He expressed his willingness to go to such point as the powers may desire, and, under the intimations made. 1t Is
 
 selected for the negotiations.
 The Chinese envoy proposed no terms as to the withdrawal of troops and made no other suggestion as to what was to come before the committee his sole anxiety be- ing to secure the cessation of hostities. The application is understood also to have been made to the powers in the hope that if all would name a commissioner there would be a general council of peace be- tw cen Ii Hung Chang on the one hand and the several representatives of the na- tions on the other. It is probably that this government would desire to take sufficient time to l<arn what the other powers intend doing the same line, as all are acting in unison. Moreover, while Ii Hung Chang asks the allies to cease hostilities, he gives no assurance that he has the power to make the Chinese army and the rebellious boxers cease their hostilities.
 situation Made More Clear
 The situation in Pekin was made more clear today from many sources Consul Fowler, at Che Foo, repeated dispatch received from Consul Ragsdale at Tien Tsin, who reports Chinese troops sur rounded in palace grounds" The Japanese legation received dispatch saying that the Chinese troops retreated on the 18th within the imperial palace, and that they were surrounded there, with the Japanese mili- tary headquarters located in the Japanese legation. Admiral Remey also transmitted an authentic report from Pekn on tbe 18th, saying troops moving on imperial city," These dispatches establish clearly that the imperial palace and grounds were under siege. But not one of the dispatches is clear as to how late this condition of af- fairs passed The Fowler dispatch is the latest to be received, and is dated the 20th, but probably that Is the date on which it left Tien Tsin The Japanese dispatch also refers to the Chinese taking refuge in the imperial palace on the 18th, but does not bring the situation beyond that day.
 Today's dispatches seem to make clear that the Emperor and the Empress Dowa- ger have made their escape from Pekfn, and that about the only present service of the imperial palace and grounds is an asy- lum in which the demoraliZed Chinese sol- diers are making last stand.
 The Japanese Legations advices today show that the Imperial cortege left Pektp on the 12th. and that probably the EnlS press Dowager, well as the Emperor, had left the city. Consul General Goodnsw advised the State Department that he had information from Chinese sources that the Empress Dowager had left Pekin.
 The attitude which the international -~~-~-~-~~--~---~--~--~