The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1900-08-25
THE FUTURE OF CHINA IN The BALANCE.
That Unwieidiy Despotism 10 at Present
Practically Headiess, with No One to
Speak for 1t with Absolute Assurance
The Allies Have y Delicate Task Con'
fronting Them.

1Ster longer anu VIC icSaboheie ~
Pekin. Now, however, that has given
place to problems of more intricate
and far-reaching character, touching
the very existence of the Chinese EN-
pire and the part which the American
government is to take in the recon-
struction of that country.
The Chinese situation.
The meeting was devoted entirely
to the Chinese situation. Secretaries
Hay and Root, who have been most ac-
tive in directing affairs, were absent
from the city so that the attendance
was small comparatively, the presi-
dent having with him Secretaries
Gage, Hitchcock and Wilson and Post
master-General Charles Emory Smith.
LIS Application Rejected.
Several questions were awaiting at.
tention. First of these was the appli-
cation of Ii Hung Chang for the APP
pointment of Minister Conger or some
other commissioner to negotiate for
the cessation of hostilities. The de-
cision arrived at was to reject the APP
plication, and reply of this charac-
ter will be sent to Minister WI, to be
forwarded to Ii Hung Chang.
Has China q Government
The moving cause for the action
taken is that this government is at
present very much in the dark as to
whether there is any existing govern
ment in China. With the capital
in the hands of the allies the
emperor and empress dowager fugi-
tives in hiding, and the entire govern
mental fabric paralyze,l, there is no
evidence of any authority adequate to
conduct negotiations and secure re-
suits which would be final and bind
ing.
An Enormous Headless AFFAIR.
IT was stated by members of the
cabinet that the Chinese establish
inent, instead Of being government,
appears to be an enormous headlcss
affair, without knowledge Of what is
for its best good and without power
to enforce its wishes. With the recog-
nized ruler in fight, no one seems to
know who, II anybody, is directing It's
affairs. As China is an absolute mon.
archy, without any executive branch,
the emperor and empress dowager are
still all-powerful, and practically they
are the empire of China.
VIII Act with Extreme Caution.
Under the present remarkable con-
ditions the United States will act
with extreme caution in whatever
steps it may take toward a solution
of the pending problems.
win Keep Armed Forces In China
In the meantime there is reason to
believe that the United States and all
the other powers interested will keep
their armed forces on the ground so
that order may be maintained and at
least a semblance of stable govern
ment brought out of the existing
chaos.
Polite Language Of Diplomacy.
The reply of this government to the
appeal OF the viceroys of Marking and
Human that no indignities be offered
the emperor and empress dowager, Is
formal acknowledgment Of the re.
ccipt of the communication with
satisfactory assurance that no indig-
mites will be offered the persons OF
their majesties, This reply Is couched
IN the polite language of diplomacy
but IL is understood that IL does not
in any way commit the government
TO refrain from imposing on the EN-.
pcror and empress dowager any penal.
ty that subsequently might be decided
upon in case II Is proved that they
were directly responsible for the re.
cent atrocities.
This question of fixing responsible.
ties where they belong and imposing
any punishment that may be deemed
citing has not received formal consid.
GRAFTON yet,
No Darricr 10 A'unishment.
The answer with which the two vice.
roys' appeal IN met, accordingly, IL u
diplomatic assurance that the rights
Of the emperor and empress dowager
will be protected. but does not i'm.
pose amy barrier to II proper punish
ment, such MS may he sanctioned by
civilized usogc, for any ofYense which
hereafter muy be held to call for on
accounting.
The Question Of Responsibility,
This IL the Interpretation given the
reply by cabinet official last night,
The question OF responsibility will
have TO be worked out slowly,
IL had been hopcG that Minister
Conger's advices. as well as those
from Gen. Chairee, would be ample by
this time, In order TO afford the Wash.
ington oflicials full opportunity to
deal with the perplexing questions
raised by the Chinese disturbance,
Gen. Chafyee has not been heard from
and the Congcr messnge was not as
complete IA the authorities here had
desired. II was stated yesterday that
messages may be sent from here TO
our representatives In China specln.
eally calling for more detailed In.
formation.
broad Field Of Chinese Affairs,
Aside from the consideration given
20 particular questions raised by the
Conger dispatch, the appeal OF Il
Hung Chang and that Of the southern
viceroys, the CABINET also had time
70 look over the broad field OF Chi.
nese affairs. There was no effort,
however, at this early stage, 10 out
liAe a general policy. That will come