The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-31
The Russian Coup.

The Russian Coup.
II NAV be said with strict regard for
truth that, in the diplomatic contest over
China, in which the worlds leading poHers
are now engaged, Russia has drawn first
blood The Russo American agreement to
withdraw from Pekin and to treat for
psace with Ii Hung Chang. has been ac-
ceDte!i willingly by Japan, and that fat
involving as it does the diversion OF
tbree-fourths OF the allied troops nom
purposes of war. forces the other parties
to the recent hostilities TO acquiesce- Three
powers-Great Britain, Germany. and Italy
are not best pleased with the situation
The two last named are not yet In accord
with the movement, and it is needless 20
say that London is suIky, and the English
press decidedly inclined to grumble at
the Russian success. The opinion in the
United Kingdom is that. while the United
States is in a position to withdraw with
out loss of dignity, Great Britain. Ger
many, France. italy. and Austria cannot
abandon Pekin and retire toward the asst
without creating an impression in the Chi
nese mind that they have been defeated
and driven from the capital. view OF tn
ease which is certain to be spread by the
Chinese Government in the interests OF the
Ming dynasty
Some OF the London papers understand
clearly enough the reason which has at
uatsd Mr. Mckinley in jumping into the
arms OF Russia on the present occasion
They argue justly, that the sentiment OF
the American people is opposed to foreign
wars. and. they might have added, thar II
Is bitterly opposed to such adventures
when conducted b. the Executive in us;r-
patton Of the constitutional prerogatiya OF
Congress Generally il Is confessed that
Muscuvite diplomacy has scored again,
through an exceedingly clever alliance with
an entirely different brand of the article
known to fame as the Little BreechesH
diplomacy.
We may now reasonably expect TO s-A
me game go on for some time in the way
outlined by the Car; but that doss not
necessarily involve certainty that ii viii
end satisfactorily or even peaceably. Il may
be possible to get the Empress Dowager
and Kwang Hsu back into Pekin, and 10
bring them 10 some sort of terms; but
there is wide field for disagreement in
the nature of terms. and III the way they
are to be enforced If the territorial in
regrity of the Empire IS to be maintained,
and the heavy damages and indemnity
which viii be demanded is to be payable
in money alone, it is difficult TO believe
that causes of quarrel viii not spring up.
The cessation of hostfIities will find
China not only in a helpless condition TO
raise or finance the new burden to be inn
posed upon her, but, according to the jap
anese statesman, Count Okuma unable TO
pay the current interest on the present
imperial debt of six hundred million taeIs.
The exactions OF Russia. for the inva-
sion of the Amur country, those OF Japan
for the murder of her Chancellor of Lega-
ton, ana those of the United States fer
the attack upon our legation and the mas
sacre of American citizens, ogether with
indemnity for the expenses of the war
all these might be not impossible 20 ad
Just. since the policies Of all three Gov
ernments, although very differently based.
happen to favor settlement upon liberal
terms TO China. But it is apparently Ger
tain that Germany will make a huge de-
Inand for compensation for the murder Of
Baron Won Ketteler. and that the eXpec
tations of Great Britain and France VIII
both be the reverse OF modest.
Even if this difficulty could be sur
mounted amicably. and the punitive and
compensatory fine upon China arranged to
the satisfaction of all the powers. the
method of collection, including internaton-
al control of Chinese revenues, the securi-
ty to be given by China for her obsery-
ance of the conditions, and the administra-
zion Of the trust for the benefit of its sew
eraI beneftciaTies. are questions which very
surely would produce friction and perhaps
something worse So although it may aD-
pear that substantial step toward the
conservation of the worlds peace has been
gained in the Russo-Ame.ican agreement
and its acceptance by the allies, there yet
remains a series of dangers which must be
encountered and disposed of in conference.
before that peace can be regarded as even
temporarily established.