The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-26
AN ORDER GIVEN AT PEKIN
Russian Commander Declares His Ma
ton at War With China.
THE NEWS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY HERE
Still II Is Admitted That the Situation at Pekin
is Delicate andlThat Spark There
Might Cause an Interna-
tionaI EXPLOSION,
tional Explosion.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, August 25.-The diplomat
ic feature of the Chinese situation to-
day took precedence over both the naval
and military features. The officials of
this Government were, if anything, more
uncommunicative than heretofore as to
the relations between the powers and
China. 1t was stated authoritatively that
no news of operations had been received
and that the diplomatic negotiations
could not be made public.
The most unsatisfactory development
of the day, SO far as the pacific pro-
gram of this Government goes was the
receipt of a dispatch from Admiral
Remey conveying the reports which had
reached him of a disagreement between
the commander of the Russian forces in
Pekin and the other internationals. The
text of this dispatch was not made pub
lie, but it was said on good authority tn
contain the statement that the Russian
commander had forbidden communica-
tion with the Chinese on the ground
that Russia was technically as we'll as
practically at war with China. 1t may
be said that this information was not
conveyed by Admiral Remey as official
news, but merely as q report from relia-
BILE sources which he considered this
Government should possess for its own
information. Assuming Admiral Remey's
report to be correct, this move on the
part Of Russia strikes the first note of
discord in the heretofore harmonious
concert Of the powers. The possibilities
of future complications that it opens up
are almost infinite, and would be serious
to a degree. 1t may be said, however,
that the news is not taken very seriously
by this Government and certainly will
not affect our course in any way until
it has been officially confirmed.
It was explained that the situation
growing out of the joint occupation of
Pekin by the powers was delicate, al
though not necessarily to be described
as serious. The interest of all the pow
ers there represented were at least COM
petitive, if not antagonistic, and an i'll
considered move on the part of any one
Government might easily entail disagree
able consequence in which all would be
more or less involved. At the same
time, it was explained that all of the
governments represented in China were
anxious to avert any open clash, if this
could be done without sacrificing what
they considered their rights in the prem
Uses. In this situation the United
States occupied the position it had held
all through the disturbance, namely, of
being the one power least under sus-
picion by the others of selfish and ute
rior motives.
This Government is exceedingly anx-
ious to maintain this vantage ground
and retain the confidence of the other
powers SO that it is now more than ever
cautious as to the next step to be taken.
The decision to address instructions to
the United States representatives at the
courts of the various powers, was
reached yesterday after the most ma
turc elaboration. 1t would have been
a satisfaction to this Government il the
action could have been taken without
exciting public comment of any sort
Owing to the fact that this communica-
ton was not addressed directly to the
other governments and that it contained
merely instructions for the guidance of
our diplomatic representatives abroad, it
was decided not to make public either
the text or the substance of the in
structions, lest their premature publica-
ton should defeat the very object for
which they were designed, namely, of
ascertaining the temper of the various
RONSTuIuGulS lHIeI6oItus Will a view W
determining what form of procedure is
most likely to meet with general appro-
baton among them, and lead to speedy
solution of the problem.
The War Department has not yet re-
ceived from General Chaffee the report
requested of him few days ago upon
conditions in Pekin. In fact several re-
cent cablegrams of inquiry addressed to
General Chaffee have not been answered.
1t is supposed that the uncertainty of
communication between Pekin and Tien
Tsin is responsible for General Chaffee's
silence The wires have been cut between
the capital and Tien Tsin and it is prob
able that the messages were sent by
courier to Pekin.
The War Department has been adj
vised by the cable companies that they
have had difficulty in tracing messages
which have been sent to United States
officials in China and are endeavoring
also to have the dispatches of General
Chaffee which arrived here in an unin-
telligible state repeated. 1T is stated
the difficulty arises in China on account
of the Interruptions that occur from time
to time on the land line from Shanghai
to Che Foo, which is under the control
Of the Chinese authorities. Copies of all
messages passing over this line are sent
nv ct 10 doIs