On August 19 and 21, Li Hung-chang wired to Wu Ting-fang to urge upon the United States Government that, inasmuch as the declared purpose of the allies to relieve the Legations had now been accomplished, they should suspend hostilities, withdraw their troops, and appoint envoys to negotiate with China. See _ibid._, No. 239, and the 56th Congress, 2d Session, _House Documents_, vol. i. pp. 197, 288–290. We may naturally infer either that Li sent similar telegrams to Russia, or that Russia had consulted Li before the circular was sent to the Powers, the general tenor of thought is so alike in the telegrams and in the circular. Footnote 296: Russia herself was conscious of the fact that others attributed to her the motive of ingratiating herself with China at a critical moment by taking, separately from the other Powers, an action favorable to China. See _China, No. 2 (1904)_, pp. 19–20. Footnote 297: See _China, No. 1 (1901)_, Nos. 275 (Austria); 280, 322, 328, (France); 309 (Italy); 281, 293, 305, 317, 318, 321, 327, 335, 378, 383 (England); 307; _No. 5 (1901)_, Nos. 110, 124, 127 (Japan); _No. 1 (1901)_, Nos. 270, 315; 56th Congress, 2d Session, _House Documents_, vol. ii. pp. 304–305, 378–379, 205 (the United States). As a matter of fact, the Boxers still roamed about Peking, and the Chinese Court, which had fled to Ta-yuen, was still under the control of Prince Tuan and his associates. A hasty withdrawal of troops from Peking would have been disastrous in its effect upon the foreigners and native Christians. Footnote 298: See _China, No. 1 (1901)_, Nos. 356 (Russian proposition); 371, 395, 401 (England); 398 (Italy); _No. 5 (1901)_, No. 128, (Japan); _House Documents_, op. cit., vol. i. pp. 203–204, 305–306, 381–382. Footnote 299: _China, No. 1 (1901)_, No. 375. CHAPTER VIII THE ANGLO-GERMAN AGREEMENT