The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-30
THE CHINESE SKIES BRIGHTER.
So it Seems to Mckinley, Off For Rest, But Not
to Others
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
Washington, June 29.-The President is
quitting Washington for his Canton home
tonight full of confidence that the situa-
ton in China has improved, though it is
fair to say that all members of his Off
cal family 10 not agree with him in that
conclusion. Indeed the days news, limit
ed though 1t was to single cablegram
from Admiral Kempff and the preparation
of Instructions to General Chaffee set
out nothing calculated to strengthen the
hopes of the friends of the foreign Min
listers and the missionaries. who have now
been silent for full two weeks. Kempff's
cablegram was a disappointment in his
confession that he knew nothing of the
whereabouts of the missing people, and
there are many expressions OF wonder
that neither that officer nor any OF the
naval commanders at Taku have been
ingenious enough to establish some sys-
TEN of spying so as to learn within two
weeks what has taken place in Pekin.
Still it Is said at the Navy Depart
ment that Admiral Kcmpif apparently has
done as well as any Of the other com
manders in getting the news, and that
it would be manifesty unfair to pro-
nounce criticism upon him until all the
facts develop. If there has been any
fault Admiral Remey, who should arrive
at Taku within a week, according to the
short message he sent today from Hong
Kong, will make the fact manifest.
Relative to the interesting story that
an international accord has been arrived
at as to the pro tempore settlement of
the Chinese trouble, State Department
officials say that while the United States
is not a party to such an agreement, il
the European powers and Japan have
come to an understanding on the basis
set out the result should be welcomed
by all who have no selfish designs to
satisfy. 1t u.s. of course, not yet possible
to predict accurately what attitude the
United States would assume officially to-
ward such combination, nor whether the
Government cou.I be induced to- enter
into common agreement except with some
special reservation made necessary by a
desire to preserve the unbroken traditions
of the United States in their relations
with foreign nations.
Secretary Root devoted the afternoon to
the preparation Of instructions to Brigl-
dier General Chaffee. who has been as
dered to China, and after conference,
the President approved them with only
few verbal changes which did not change
their general character. Although Secre-
tary Root would not make public the text
of General Chaffee's instructions, he said
that generally speaking General Chaffee
had been ordered to look out for the
United States interest in China, to avoid
entangling alliances, to act concurrently
with the other powers where 1t was
thought the general interest to do so,
and in a word to continue a policy that
has marked tire actions of the United
States Government since the beginning OF
the Boxer troubles in China. These in
structons will be telegraphed to General
Chaifee at San Francisco in order to
reach him before his departure on the
transport Grant Sunday evening. Secre-
tary Root said that in case the progress
of events made it necessary 1t would be
an easy matter to modify General
Chafree's instructions b. cable to Ma
gasaki which will be the first port visit
ed by the Grant after her departure from
San Francisco. Secretary Root was ask
ed If any more troops would be ordered
to China. and he replied Not yet" but
intimated that the further action of the
War Department in that matter would
be governed entirely by the cxigencies
OF the situation
Today's instructions are supplementary
to his original orders "to proceed to
Pckin by way of Nagasak and Taliu."
The following statement is published by
the War Department:
THE War Department is in daily receipt
of letters and kilograms from all sec
tions of the country rendering the ser
vices of individuals and organizations in
tho event of war between the United
States and China. To all of these there
can be but one reply. BY the act OF
March 2n1, 1899, the President was au-
thorized to raise force of not more than
35 900 volunteers. which volunteer force
"shall continue in service only during
the necessity therefor and not later than
June, 1901" And BIZ the act Of April
| 22nd, 1899 the volunteer army Of the
United States can be maintained only
during the existence of war. and shall
be raised and organized "only after Con-
gress has, or shall have, authorized the
President to raise such a force or to call
| into the actual service of the United
States the militia of the several States"
ut therefore rests with Congress, and
| not with the President to increase the
| volunteer force, and while the War De-
| partment cannot be other than gratlHed
at these prompt and spontaneous evil
dences of patriotism on the part Of the
people, it can only reply to each and
,evcrv such tender of assistance that
| there is no authority in law for the aC-
ceptance of any volunteer troops other
than those now in the service"
| ~
TO PROTECT THE MISSIONARIES.