Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-12
Rendered Less Grave by Formally
Proclaimed Attitude.
ANXIETY FOR FOREIGN MINISTER'S
That is in No Way Abated by
DisavowaI Of Responsibility.
P r ES S ON TO PEKIN

In the broader sense it is felt here that
the Chinese situation is rendered less grave
by the attitude formally proclaimed by the
Chinese government through Minister WI.
The anxiety as to the safety of the foreign
ministers at Pekin is not abated, but the
disavowal by the government of respon-
sibility for outrages, in the sense of having
failed to do what lay in its power to pre-
vent them. placed the danger of actual
war with China remote. The Chinese gov
crnment and the Chinese masses are quite
distinct, and in determining international
relations distinction has to be made be-
tween outrages in defiance of the govern
ment and in revolution against 1t, or by
sudden mob uprising which for a time
tenders the government powerless to pre-
serve life and property, and outrages which
are committed or instigated by the govern
ment.
Contemplated Calamity.
Aside from the horrible apprehension as
to the fate of the foreigners in Pekin, the
administration here has to contemplate the
more far-reaching calamity of difficult
and protracted war with a semi-savaee
people far removed from our base of sup
plies and SO numerous as to involve neces
sarily great hardship and immense loss of
life before they could be conquered. The
communication from Minister WI yester-
day is regarded as relieving the apprehen-
sion of actual war. whatever may have
happened al Pekin and as also warranting
hope that the foreign ministers, in
one instance, are still alive. However
savage and fanatic a great mass of the
population of China may be, 1t Is recogniZ-
ed that in the governing class there are
found men of the broadest learning and
skill both statesmen of their own school
and diplomats familiar with the usages
and the character Of the nations of the
earth. 1t can readily be acceeded there
fore that while the Chinese government
may not be able for a time to protect for
eigners. 1t is not fatuHls enough to delib
erately enter upon course of conduct
which would bring upon her the armies OF
the world and inevitably result in the de-
struction of the empire. 1t is felt, there
fore. to be fair assumption that from
motives of self preservation, If from none
more enlightened. the Chinese governuent
to protect the lives of the ministers, and
will endeavor In every possible way to
avoid. as a nation. the consequences of
what mob outlawry may have done
Doubt Not Relieved.
Arriving at the conclusion that the gov
ernment has furnished the ministers such
protection as 1t could does not, however.
relieve the doubt as to the extent to which
the mob violence may have been carried
despite the efforts of the authorities. In
fact there appears something ominOus in
the tone Of the expressions emanating from
the imperial government suggestive of pre-
pairing the way for the disclosure of an
awful tragedy by clearing the skirts of
the authorities as far possible before
the dreaded announcement shall be made.
The action of the German government in
appointing a successor to their murdered
representative at Pekin shows that the
murder. unless 1t shall be found to have
ment, is not to be regarded a cause for
war. If all the foreigners have been put to
death by the mob It will not necessarily
result in declaration of war against
China: but with her only plea to escape
sponsibility, a claim that anarchy reigns.
China cannot oppose the entry Of the al
lied troops into Pekin to restore order.
To Press on to Pekin.
The policy Of the United States, in COM
mon with other powers, is to press on to
Pekin, and in following this policy it will
not be construed into a condition of actual
warfare.
no reason why Congress should be called
unless the Chinese government shall be
through being overwhelmed by Its own peo-
pie 1t cannot be conceived that the gov
erning class of China want to provoke
war with the rest Of the world though an
element of them might not be averse to
maintaining a condition of affairs which
would discourage the development of Euro
pean interests in China.