The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-21
Circulation Statement.
The Partition of China.

The Administration has finally walked
UP to full realization of what its Chi
nese cut and scuttle policy has done Tor
the country. 1t has dawned upon cur am
ateur diplomatists and the President ttey
led astray when his norma! advisers in
International affairs were away from
their desks, that our precipitate retreat
from China without the courtesy of noiice
to our allies has probably resulted in our
going without any indemnity fer the at
tack upon our legation and the torture
and butchery Of our citizens.
The broad chances now seem to be that
the terms formulated by the ENJOYS at
Pekin will be rejected by the Chinese
Government. In that event the war will
have TO be resumed. The United States
will hardly be party to it, and certain
ly will not be in a position to engage in
any useful negotiations with China p, nj
ing it. AS this country will not partici-
pate in the hostilities. it will not tie per-
mitted to partake of their fruits. The
fruits in question will almost surely
amount to nothing more than rsal estate.
Even of that it is doubtful that we shall
be asked to take slice.
In wabbling and laundering way the
Administration has been sincere in advo-
eating a money indemnity from CHM and
respect for her territorial integrity. Pr
titicn and the open door" could hardly
co-eXist, and Mr.. Mckinley has had rea-
son enough to propote the latter. But,
while his intentions have been excellent
his performance has not been brilliant.
If this country had maintained its mill
tary position at Pekin until the peace
terms had been arranged, it would have
had the advantage of all the American
prestige gained in the relief expeditions.
its voice and vote would have been potent
in the International councils. and its
views and wishes would have been treated
with respect. The cut and scuttle put an
end to all that All the powers but Rus
STA were dumfounded and afsronted, and
Russia laughed in her sleeve over the
cunning de Wollant coup. Since the mo-
ment of the Russo-American agreement the
United States has been without weight
among the allies. and in all essentials has
, been excluded from their negotiations.
BY ignoring the ordinary conventions of
diplomatic intercourse, and getting from
under just when negotiations were about
to begin. and the international comman-
-chief-to whose appointment we
had consented-was en- the eve of arriv-
ing We deliberately broke the concord,
and served notice that the Great Western
Republic was no longer to be considered
as number on the Concert programme.
No doubt the Administration will pro-
test that it has as much to say in China
as ever; and that it will not allow the
open door to be slammed, or anybody to
get Chinese territory. But such action
will be taken at its true value in Europe,
and will hardly delude many people in
America. The bald truth is that III. cut
and scuttle policy, which may have been
useful as a matter of campaign adyertis-
ing or not. as one looks at it, has chorsei
us out of our share in whatever may be
the punitive damages arising from the
Chinese imbroglio.
We have lot of fine officers and men to
mourn, another lot of tortured and muir
dered American women and children to
weep for unrevenged, and big bill to
pay. For the rest, we must be content
with what pleasant emotions our mem
cries of the famous cut and scuttle can
supply.