The Portland daily press., 1900-09-01

sought the sarety of her legation in Pc
kin, and to help the Chinese government
to repress the existing troubles. The same
purposes have moved and Will continue
to control the government of the United
States and the fran declarations of Rus
sia in this regard are In accord with
those made to the United States by the
other powers. All the powers, therefore,
having dlsclaimed any purpose to ac-
quire any part of China, and now that
adherence thereto has been renewed, since
relief has reached Pekin, it ought not to
be difficult by concurrent action, through
negotiations, to reach an amicable s9ttle-
ment with China by which the treaty
rights OF ali the powers Will be secured
for the future, the opengdoor assured, the
interests and property of foreign citizens
conserved, and full reparatlon for wrongs
and injuries suffered by them.
$50 far as we are advised, the greater
part Of China Is at peace and earnestly
desires to protect the life and property of
all foreigners, and In several of the prov
1nces active and successful efforts to sup
press the Boxers have been taken by the
viceroys to whom we have extended en-
couragement through our consuls and
naval officers, This present good rela-
tionsh1p should be promoted for the peace
of China.
awhile we agree that the immediate
object TOR which the military forces OF
the powers have been cooperating, viz,
the relief of the ministers at Pekin, has
been accomplished, there still remain the
other purposes which all the powers have
in common, which are referred to in tho
communication of the Russian charge
and which were specifically enumerated
in our note to the powers of July 8.
t'These are: To afford all possible pro-
lection everywhere in China to foreign
life and property; to guard and protect
all legitimate foreign interests; to aid in
preventing the spread of thu disorders to
other provinces of thu empire and re-
currence OF such disorders; and to seek a
solution which may bring about perma-
nent safety and peace to China, preserve
Chinese territorial and administrative
entity, protect all rights guaranteed by
treaty and International law to friendly
powers, and safeguard for the world the
principle of equal and impartial trade
with all parts of the Chinese empire.
Sin our opinion these purposes could
best be attained by the joint occupation
of Pekin under definite understanding
between the powers until the Chinese
government shall have been reestabIished
and shall be in position to enter into
new treaties with adequate provisions for
PREPARATION and guarantees OF future pro-
lection with the establishment and recog-
milton Of such authority, the United
States would wish to Withdraw it's mill
tary forces from. Pekin and remit to the
processes of peaceful negotiation our just
demands.
''We consider, however, that contin-
ued occupation of Pekin would be in
effective to produce the desired effect, un
less all the powers unite therein with en-.
tire harmony of purpose. Any power
which determines to Withdraw it's troops
from Pek1n viii necessarily proceed
thereafter to pro5ect its interests in Chi
ma by its own method, and we think that
this would make a general withdrawal
expedient. AS to the time and manner
OF withdrawal we think that, in view of
the imperfect knowledge of the military
situation resulting from the negotiation
of telegraphic communication the several
military commands at Pekin should be
Instructed to confer together upon the
withdrawal as a concerted movement, as
they agreed upon the advance
''The result of these considerations is
that, unless there Is such general ex-
preston by the powers in favor of con-
tinued occupation as to modify the views
expressed by the government of Russia,
and leads to a general agreement for con-
tinued occupation, we shall give instruc-
lions to the commander OF the American
forces in China to withdraw our troops
from Pekin after due conference with
the other commanders as to the time and
manner of withdrawal.
The government of the United States
is much gratified by the assurance give n
by Russia that the occupation OF Nieu-
chwang is for military purposes incident
al to the military steps for the security
OF the Russian border province menaced
by the Chinese and that as soon as order
shall be reestablished Russia will retire
her troops from those places If the action
of the other powers be not an obstacle
thereto. No obstacle in this regard can
arise through any action OF the United