The age-herald., 1900-09-13
QUESTION IS UP TO MR. M M'KINL[Y Must Decide on Withdrawal of
 Troops from Pekin, INFLUENCE OF FRENCH NOTE General Chaffee Acquainted With
 Attitude of Government. AWAITS THE PRESIDENTS SIGNAL Negotiations May be Opened With Il Hung Chang and Prince Ching
 More Atrocities Reported
 from Shaouw-Situation
AWAITS THE PRESIDENTS SIGNAL

Washington, September 12.-The question of withdrawing the American troops at once from Pekin is now before the Presi- dent and speedy decision is expected and required. There are differences among of- ficers at Pekin on the subject, and the issue of the President is to decide. Tho action of the French government, as re- ported by cable in joining Russia in orders for the withdrawal of troops has brought about the contingency touched upon in the reply to Russia in the following language: "The result of these considerations is that unless there is such general express sion by the powers in favor of continued occupation as to modify the views express ed by the government of Russia and lead to a general agreement for continued oc- cupation, we shall give instructions to tho commander of the American forces in Chi4 na to withdraw our troops from Pekin ac. ter due conference with the other com- mands to the time and manner of with3 drawal.'
 General Chaffee was made acquainted with the attitude of the government and directed to hold himself in readiness to withdraw his troops Undoubtedly he
 
 as to the time and manner of withdraw. al according to the terms of the note. The sending of further supplies to him has been stopped and he now awaits but the signal from Washington to begin his move- ment. It is for the President to give that signal.
 Immediate Withdrawal
 The considerations now before him in ia. immediate wi al fact that he is already committed in 0 measure, to such course by the above quoted language in reply to the Russian note; second, it is reported that China is on the verge of a terrible famine and the retention of the troops in Pekin prevent ing' as they do, the return of the Chinese government and the supply of provisions to the capital, places the responsibility for what threatens to be frightful calamity upon the powers who sanctioned the occu- patton.
 On the other hand, strong representa- tons have been made to the President in opposition to withdrawal in advance of ths procurement of absolutely sufficient guar antees for the protection of American in- terests in China and for the safety of the native Christians. This last addition is ono most difficult to meet. but, being insisted upon by the missionary element, is being given careful consideration
 In anticipation of some such state of af-
 
 the dispatch of preliminaries to negotia- tions It Is highly desirable that some re- sponsible representative of the Chinese government be recognized in order that we may secure a sufficient guarantee upon which to base the withdrawal of our troops.
 Ii Hung Chang and Prince Ching are the only lights in the East, so far as our government can see, and it is possible that the present problem may be solved by a decision to deal with them immediately and to accept their pledge as sufficient for our purposes Therefore the decision an- nounced today to facilitate Ii Hung Chang's passage from Shanghai to Pekin may be regarded as significant Later it announced that Consul General Good now had reported that Ii would leava Shanghai next Friday for Ten Tsin. His means of transportation not known. but he may have a United States vessel, if such a thing is absolutely necessary to his reaching Tien Tsin.
 May he Cond, GU d at Tien Tsin
 Possibly the negotiations may be con- ducted there but the opinion in official circles seems to be the last act in the ne- gotiations, namely, the signatures of the treaties which must bind China for the fu- ture, must take place at the Chinese capital It is not known that any of the powers Is prepared to object to u Hung's visit. Meanwhile the State Department is doing it's best to force the Chinese government, through Ii Hung Chang, to restore peace in the provinces and cease outrages upon American citizens which have been contin- ued up to the present day.
 Under date of July 3, 1900 the consul of the United States at Flu Chow reports to the Department of State that advces re- ceived from three native pastors at Shaouw, prefectural city about 250 miles from Flu Chow, and mission station of the American board, indicate that during a riot which occurred at Shaouw on July "A the large church belonging to the mission, one chapel a large hospital building two residences occupied by the missionaries and several houses were destroyed by the mob, ever article of furniture being carried away. The consul also states that no loss of life Is reported as having occurred during the riot. Rev. M. Walker and Rev, MT. Hinman of the Shaouw mission were at Flu Chow on July S1, 1900, where they had been for several months previously.
 Imperial Troops Defeated
 Berlin, September 12.-A dispatch to the Frankfurt Zeitung from Shanghai, dated Tuesday September Il, says the Boxers, united with the Society of the Big Knife, from northern Shantung, are reported to have defeated the Imperial Chinese troops north of the province Kiang Su. which is south of Shantung. Ie,