The sun., 1900-08-27
LATEST CHINA NEWS.
Reported Disagreement Among the
Allies at Peking.
TROUBLE MAY EASILY ENSUE
Unique Diplomatic Position Occupied
by United states-Terms of Our
Note to China Regarding Peace
Negotiations Not Lived Up To.

Washington, Aug. 26.-The diplomatic
feature of the Chinese situation has
taken precedence over both the naval
mud military features. The officials of
this government are, If anything, more
uncommunicatiye than heretofore as to
the relations between the powers and
China.
A dispatch from Admiral Remey con
veys the reports which had reached him
Of disagreement between the command
er of the Russian forces in Picking and
the other internatonals. The text Of
this dispatch was not made public, but
IL was said on good authority to contain
the statement that the Russian command
er had forbidden communication with
the Chinese on the ground that Russia
was technically as well as practically at
war with China, 1t may be said that
this information was not conveyed by
Admiral Romey as official news, but
merely as a report from reliable 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 com
plications that it opens up are almost
infinite and would be serious to degree.
1t may be said, however, that the news
is not taken very seriously by this gov
crnment and certainly will not affect our
course in any way until it has been oiii-
cially confirmed.
1t was explained that the situation
growing out of the joint occupation of
Peking by the powers was delicate, al
though not necessarily to be described as
serious. The interests of all the pow
ers there represented were at least COM
pctitive if not antagonistic, and an i'll
considered move on the part of any one
government might easily entail disagreed
BILE consequences in which all would be
more or less involved. AT the same time
it was explained that all of the govern
ments represented in China were anxious
to avert any open clash If this could be
done without sacrificing what they con-
sidered their rights in the premises
Our Vantage Ground.
In this situation the United States oc-
cupied the position it had held all through
the disturbance of being the one
power least under suspicion by the 9th
ers of selfish and ulterior motives. This
government is exceedingly anxious to
maintain this vantage ground and re-
tain the confidence of the other powers,
so that ii 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 reach
ed after the most mature deliberation. 1t
would have been a satisfaction to this
government if the action could have been
taken without exciting public comment
of any sort. Owing to the fact that this
communication was not addressed direct
ly to the other governments and that It
contained merely instructions for the
guidance of our diplomatic representa-
tives abroad it was decided not to make
public either the text or the substance
of the instructions, lest their premature
publication should defeat the very OBJ
iect for which they were designed
namely. Of asccitaining the temper of
the various governments interested, with
n view to determining what form Of pro-
cedure Is most likely To meet with gen
eral appreciation among them and lead
TO n speedy solution of the problem.
The situation in China at present does
not mcct in any way the conditions laid
down in Secretary Adee's note TO Ii
Hung Chang on Aug. % as prerequisite
TO peace negotiations by the United
States. This communication announced
that, although the powers had been COM
pelIed to rescue their ministers by force
of arms, unaided by the Chinese govern
ment, still the United States lis ready to
welcome any oYertures for a truce and
invite the powers to join when security
is established in the Chinese capital and
the Chinese government shows its abil'
ty and willingness to make on its part an
effective suspension of hostilitles there
and elsewhere"
The Condition Lnid Down.
This is the condition laid down which
up to date has not been fulfilled. The
subsequent course of the United States
as outlined by the same note is stated IN
the language of this government as fol-
lows: "When this (the restoration of or
der) is done, and we hope it will be done
promptly, the United States will be pre-
pared to appoint a representative to join
with the representatives of the other
similarly interested powers and of the
authoritative and responsible government
of the Chinese empire to attain the ends
desired in our circular to the powers of
July 81
One of the most serious considerations
which remain prior to the opening of
peace negotiations is to determine what
aud who is the responsible government
of China. referred 10 in the United
States note. 1t is understood that this
government is inclined to the opinion
that the emperor, Kwang Hsu. is the re-
sponsibe head but in the absence OF any
reliable information as to his where
abouts even the first steps toward ap-
pointing a representative for peace
conference with China would be declded
ly premature The most that this gov
ernment hopes or expects just now is in
formation as to the readiness of the 9th
er governments to participate in friend
ly conference over the course TO be pur-
sued by them in China after order is re-
stored.
: BOXER ARMY NEAR PEKING.'