Evening star., 1900-09-26
Americas Part In China.

The answer of Great Britain to Germany's
proposal as to the punishment of the lead
ing Chinese malefactors as unofHcially an
nounced, is an emphatic rebuke or those
European critics of the American govern
n.ent who have been utterfng dismal groWls
OF late. It Is complete justification OF
President McKinley's course OF action IL
precludes the possibility of serious d.
vision among the powers on this point OIL
conducting a strictly punitive campaign
in China prior to negotiations for the es-
tablishment Of a secure. responsible gov
ernment. 1t leaves Germany virtually
alone in demanding that the punishment
of the leaders be made an Indispensable
preliminary condition of dealings with
China.
1t is not to be doubted that If the United
States had acquiesced in the German de-
mands England would quickly have fol-
lowed suit. together with Japan. This
would have created compact alliance of
four great powers intent upon shifting
China a terrible blow In vengeance. Such
policy. carried out by these agents. would
have inevitably led to bitter warfare In
Asia
After the United States had made known
its unwilingness to join Germany in a
bloody propaganda of revenge, surely lead
ing to the partition OF the empire, Russia
and Japan notified Germany of their ac-
quiescence in her proposal that the foreign
ministers ascertain the identity of the lead
ing reactionaries. 1t has been assumed in
the absence OF further details that these
powers did not accept the German proposi-
tion that punishments should precede nego-
tiations. Now England has followed the
American lead in rejecting this proposition.
The impression cannot well be avoided that
the United States has thus a second time
cast the deciding vote in the Asiatic prob
lem. having previously set the pace in the
matter of maintaining legations at Pekin,
thereby preserving the prestige of the for
eisn establishments and forcing the Chi
nese government into the attitude of a
fugitive.
The United States was likewise the first
II define the exact character of its Pekin
establishment. by giving orders for the
withdrawal OF all the forces but "lega-
tion guard sufficiently strong to insure
the safety of the American representa- tive.
Indeed. from step to step throughout these
troubles this government has acted both
as an independent agent untrammeled by
alliances friendships, and also as
factor for peace through united interna-
tIonal action Lacking the selfish motives
of territorial extension which actua te most
of the other powers. it's hands are clean. it's
inspiration above suspicion and it's prestige
correspondingly great.
Thus far this country has exercised the
most potent influence for united action by
the powers. Disappearing both the Russian
and the German proposals. which were ex-
treme in opposite courses, it has ,empha-
sized the necessity for a conservative mid
die course of negotiations conducted at
Pekin. Thus 1t has prevented up TO now
a breach between the allies, whose har-
nony is essential Ii China is to be both
punished and regenerated. without suffer
ing partition. When the whole of the rec
ord shall be written. it Is safe to say the
United States will be found to have acted
the most effectively of ali the great world
agents for the preservation of peace nnd the
maintenance of civilization