Evening journal., 1900-08-30
Held Longest Cabinet Session
for Many Years
JAPANESE WIN BIG VICTORY
1t is Thought That Russia May Urge
the Withdrawal Of Troops
From China

washington, Aug. 30.-1he longest
cabinet session held in years adjourned
at $50 last evening after having been
in session, with the exception of an
hours recess at 1870, since 10 o'clock
in the morning. The session was de-
voted to the consideration of the Dip
lomatic problems which have arisen in
connection with the Chinese situation
as a result of the position taken by
the powers, and eventuated in the for
mutation of a document for transmits
sion abroad. That this document is
of supreme Importance in defining the
position of the United States is as
sumed from the prolonged and careful
attention with which it was prepared
and considered, but no glimmer Of
light is shed upon it's exact character.
All efforts to ascertain whether it was
in the nature of a reply to Germany or
Russia or a collective note to the pow
ers outlining the policy of the United
States under the new conditions which
have developed since the rescue of the
legations were futile. The members of
the cabinet pointed out the obvious
impropriety of divulging the nature OF
a diplomatic document before it has
reached the power or powers to whom
it is addressed. One cabinet officer
however, expressed the opinion that
its contents would reach the public
in few days.
The st. Petersburg dispatch to Lon
don containing the assertion that Rus
STA almost Immediately will notify the
powers that she considers the relief of
the Pekin legations as the final accom-
plishment of the military task Of the
allied forces, it was learned late last
night, is the phase of the Chinese situ-
alton which is attracting the most at
tention from this government at this
time. That assertion inferentially
carries with it the impression that the
Russian government should withdraw
its military forces from Pelin and
thinks that other allies should do like
wise. No official information along
these lines, however, can be obtained
here. The withdrawal of the military
forces from Pekin in a phase of the
Chinese situation to which our govern
ment as yet has not given any serious
consideration, believing that the first
duty of the allies is to reach some
common ground of understanding with
a view to opening negotiations for the
settlement of terms of peace with
China. The withdrawal Of the mill
tary, it is held. might be very properly
a subject of after consideration.
There are hopes that communication
with China, very much delayed of
late, will be better soon. Consul Fow-
Ter, at ChefoO, get routine dispatch
through yesterday of current date, and
the navy department has been informed
that the cable company's ship was
about to leave Shanghai yesterday to
lay direct cable connecting Shang-
hal with Chefoo-one of the weakest
links in the chain of communication at
present. These improved conditions as
to the opening Of communication be-
tween our military and naval COM
manders and the authorities here have
made 1t possible for the latter to aban-
don the purpose, conceived Tuesday,
of employing naval vessels to convey
by water messages between Shanghai
and Chefoo.
The attitude of Germany was the
subject of much official discussion dur
ing the day and considerable new light
was thrown upon it. Early in the day
the German charge d'affaires, Baron
Speck Won Sternberg, had a long con-
ference with Acting Secretary Adee.
~ nAdNAnlJOu ludL auN question:
which may have arisen as to the future
course of Germany is met by a refer
ence to an official note by Count Won
Buelow, German minister of foreign
affairs, issued on July -, which fully
defined Germany's purposes in China.
This note declares that I'VE desire no
partition of China, and seek no special
advantages. The imperial government
is imbued with the conviction that the
maintenance Of the agreement between
the powers is a primary condition for
the restoration of peace and order in
China"
There is reason for believing that
Germany holds today that the fore
going declaration is as effective as
when it was first enunciated.
The attitude of Italy also has been
defined in a statement by Marquis Wis
conte Venosta, minister of foreign af-
fairs, which declares: "The cabinet
has no political intentions toward ex-
pansion or intrigue in China. Its pro-
gram is to maintain perfect accord be-
tween Italy and the other powers"
1t is said that the course Of Austria
win be practically identical with that
of Germany. owinS to the close rela-