The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-09-10
Transports Are Gathering at
Taku to Carry Troops
to Philippines
ORDER is PREPARATORY
Negotiations for a Final settlement
Are Progressing Rapidly and
Return of Imperial Fam
lily to Pekin Is Elk
pected Soon.

Washington. September S.-Orders have
been cabled to General Chaffee to prepare
his forces for withdrawal from Pekin
Further than that the war department
has taken steps to have at Taku sufii-
cient number of United States transports
to remove these troops to the Philippines
as soon as they reach the port.
These orders are preparatory and do
not necessarily Indicate that our govern
ment has decided finally upon an imme-
date withdrawal from China. 1t is sim
ply placing itself in a position to carry
out the pledge conveyed in the reply 70
the Russian note in this language
''rhe result of these considerations is
that, unless there is such a genera eA-
preston by the powers in favor OF con-
tinued occupation. we shall give lhstruc
tions to the American forces IN Chin't W
Withdraw our troops from fehln it,
due conference with the other coninau-
ders as to the time and manner Oh WIFI
drawal."
Up to the present moment our govern
rnent has not changed it's policy in TINS
matter of withdra wing troops 1t nae
given the subject much consideration
since the original note was written put
at all times there has been kept steaol-
ly in mind the propriety OF removing the
y
this could be done consistently. 1t Is 1nu-
mated that the prospect for securing
these objects through completely harmo-
NOUS action by the powers is DrlShteh-
ing every day The continuance OF quiet IN
pekin, tending to reassure the ChlneSe
officials is believed to be rapidly nasteh-
ing negotiations for a final settlement.
There is the best reason to, believe that
were the Chinese government once DIS
sured of the personal safety or lts mem
hers. were IL relieved of a fear of us
memberment of China and the menace
of n large foreign force in the capital. the
imneriaI court. including the emperor ana
dowager would lose no time in returning
to Pekin and opening negotiations LOT
settlement. Hence the suggestion mas
been thrown out that the allied forces III
Pekin be reduced to n number suIllcleue
Il insure the Immediate safety OF the ie-
cations while the remaining FORCES
tire bevond the walled city. perhaps 10
zion Tsin. and If the progress of the ne
potiations seem To warrant II. perhaps De
Withdrawn altogether from Chinese SOIL
There are only two obstacles TO the exc
cution of this plan.
One is the dicffiulty of framing suitable
guarantees for the continuance 10 Il SdIl9-
factory conclusion of the negotiations I"'
the final settlement The other IS the uh-
gOmprOmiSluE attttuuc pL oHC Va
nowers. Ii is now believed that the dlih-
Guilty as to guarantees can be satistacto-
rilv adjusted. The other obstacles may se
overcome by a threatened Isolation OF
tho refractory power; for II Is believed
that no one power would care to pursue
a war upon China when the other pow
ers had deliberately expressed their JudS-
mont that further hostilties were unwar-
ranted Besides hostilities under such
conditions tending to injure the interests
90 tho other mowers in China might he re
carded by them as authorizing a joint de-
mand upon the single power for guaran-
tees which would be very difficult to
meet.
For this reason II is hoped that the
powers can be brought to act in harmony
in the matter of the evacuation of Pekin
and II is entirely possible If this plan Is
executed that all the American troops
save a small number left to guard the
legation at Pekin, can be Withdrawn from
China before winter sets In. 1t will not
be necessary to delay the negotiations
until the evacuation is completed. Even
now our government, for one. Is IN po-
sition to begin them instantly upon the
appearance of properly accredited repre-
sentatives of the Chinese government OI
course, IL is preferable that all or the
powers interested take the same view OF
the sufIiciency of these credentials. and
this government is devoting its entire
efforts at the present moment toward Sc
curing harmony of action TO this end,
and to Fastening the initiation or the
final negotiations.