The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-07

portant developments within the next few
days They point out that the Imperial
authorities must decide within a short
time the question of whether they shall go
to war with the powers, as the allies, after
their victory at Peitsang, will undoubtedly
follow up the advantage they have gained
and press on to Pekin.
China must then show her hand. She
cannot much longer conceal her real pur-
pose. The officials are hourly expecting to
receive another appeal for peace from the
Chinese throne, for the conviction is strong
here that China will not go to war with
| the powers until she has exhausted every
effort TO obtain peace. Meanwhile. there
will be no orders sent from Washington to
stop the American forces from advancing,
The only thing that might in any way fur
nish a foundation for an armistice and
discussion of peace terms would be the
safe delivery of the ministers and other
foreigners TO the allies.
TEe Peril Increasing.
No information has been received here
to confirm the statement attributed to Il
Hung Chang that the ministers left Pekin
On August 3 under a Chinese escort. Had
Ii made this announcement 10 the foreign
consuls at Shanghai. as the despatch as
serts. Consul General Goodnow would have
informed the State Department. Therefore
the-statement is not credited
The reports from st. Petersburg and
Berlin that the United States and Russia
are believed to be arranging an agreement
to prevent the partition of China are pre-
sunably based on the Russian answer 10
Secretary Hays declaration of principles
in his note of July to the American diplo-
matte representatives in Europe. Within
week from the date of the note s1tisfac-
tory answers had been received {, ON all
the European Governments app loached.
Every one OF them, including Russia, as
sured the United States that thsir only
purpose in sending troops to China was to
restore order, rescue the foreigners in Pc
kin, and protect foreigners generally, and
that they had no intention to demand ter
ritortal indemnity for the acts OF the Chi
nese. "a
Gratif!cd at the Harmony.
"one of the most gratifying features Of
the situation, as outlined by General Claf-
fee, is the fact that the allies are working
in entire harmony said an official of the
War Department today. Y am now hoping
that we will be able to withdraw the
American forces from China by November
/. If the movement is not effected then,
| the troops VIII be compelled to remain
the until april or May OF the following
year. 1t Will not DO to say that there VIII
be 10 furt-cF resistance, as it is TO be ex-
pected that desperate stand VIII be made
at Yangtsung. However, the horrors of the
march are not such as had been antici-
pated, and there is every reason to believe
that the gates OF the Imperial City Will
be reached within three weeks
It was claimed at the State Department
| today that the telegram sent on Sunday by
Acting: Secretary of State Adee to Consul
General Goodnow. in answer to the infor-
nation furnished by Mr.. Goodnow that
communication between the foreign min
listers in Pekin and their Governments had
been suspended. contained nothing more
important than directions to Mr.. Goodnow
to ascertain the extent Of the alleged re-
fusai Of the Imperial authorities to permit
messages in plain language to be trans
mitted to the ministers. Nr Goodnow was
not told to protest.
The Chinese Government announced for
naIly that it would not permit messages
in cipher to be exchanged between the min
isters and the foreign consuls at Tientsin,
but did not put any embargo on plain mes
sages, Mr.. Goodnow said in his DESPATCH
that, notwithstanding this, plain messages
sent to the ministers from Tientsin On Au-
gust had been returned. No despatch has
been received from Mr.. Goodnow since his
telegram of Sunday