The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-27

70 Acting Secretary Ades, at the de-
partment of state. and by him furnished
10 the president. While the news OF
possible rear attack upon the compare
lively small force OF the allies was not
received with surprise, II generally was
not regarded az serious, as the foreign
forces are believed TO be abundantiy able
20 take care Of themselves against any
force OF Chinese likely 70 be sent against
them.
Matters of Diplomacy.
In the absence OF official information
from China. or from United States Of
ficers there, interest today centered In the
diplomatsc phases Of the existing trou-
bic. The rumor Of a declaration OF war
By Russia. It Is explained, may have
grown out OF the operation OF the troops
OF the car. in the protection Of the
southeastern frontier of his empire, or
It may have arisen from the reported
statement OF the commanders OF the Rus
sian forces at Picking. that bis govern
ment was at war with China, and there
fore he must prohibit communication
with the Chinese.
Neither the operations Of Russia on
her frontier. nor the prohibition by
Russian general Of communication with
the Chinese would constitute, II Is said,
a declaration Of war by Russia. No gen
erai could declare war Even his state
ment that bis government had declared
war would not make IL 80.
A declaration Of war, II In pointed out
by the best authority, is a perfect. dis
tinct and obvious proceeding. In this
country a declaration OF war may be
made only by congress-
How War f. Declared.
Among European nations the method Of
procedure is simpler. but quite as obvious.
War IL declared by them by edict or proc
lamation. II may be a declaration Of war.
or II may he tho official recognition that
state of war EXISTS. In either event,
the news OF such action would be pub
lIshed TO the world Immediately.
Diplomatic representatives OF the pow
ers making the declaration would be noti-
fled instantly. In order that they might
communicative the information TO the gov
crnfnents OF the country to which they
are accredited. The information, too,
would be conveyed, at once. to the nation
against which the declaration was made.
In turn this nation would notify its dip
ionatic representatives abroad that they
might govern themselves accordingly
Within three hours after the official de-
clarailon ~ congress that the United
states was az war with the Kingdom OF
spain, the Spanish government had on the
wires an Identical note 10 all governments
70 which " had accredited representatives
notifying them OF the existence OF A state
o. war between Spain and the United
States.
Russia's Act Construed.
The understanding among washington
ofhcials OF Russias action Is that the EN-
pire has declared that three provinces on
ia southeastern frontier are In a state of
siege.
This II altogether different from a dec
iarafion OF war. ~ corresponds 10 n dec
iaration Of martial law by Great Britain
ana 70 suspension OF the right OF habeas
corpus by tbs United States II in a su-
percession ~ eiyil by military authority
II has no effect upon such treaties as may
De IN force between the two countries.
whereas a declaration OF war or a declara-
tion that u state of war exists would annul
all treaties.
~ u pointed out further that Russia
mas two objects In her present operations
In China, the rescue and protection of
the foreign legationers and the protection
OF her menaced frontier
The avowed object of the other powers
IS simply the rescue and protection OF the
leEationers and other foreign subjects.
In carrying out her second object Russia
has seized Newchwang. This was done 10
obtain base Of operations from which
the frontier could easily be reached, pre-
cisely as Taku was scized as a base OF
operations by the allies In their operations
against Picking
America VIII Not Retire.
Whether. in tho event OF a declaration.
OF war by one or more powers against
China. an Invitation would be extended to
the United States to retire from China,
as intlmatei In the dispatch from Chefoo
IL open To doubt. and Il IL decidedly prob.
iematicai whether the invitation would be
accepted even II II were rendered The
United States forces are IN China protect
ms the personal aud property rights Of
citizens 81 this country. and, IN addition.
the treaty rights of the United States
Under the most favored nation clause
this country has certain specific rights in
China and u IL said on authority. 60 be
the purpose Of the United States TO pro-
teet aud preserve those rights,
The attitude this government would as
sumo la the event OF a declaration OF war
by another power would depend u can
be stated upon immediate circumstances
surrounding tho declaration and thu sit.
nation ia china az tho time the deelara-
tion was made In any event Il can be
said a. he no part Of the purpose 81 the
United states 60 sacrifice any OF It's guar
anteed rights or privileges in the Chinese
empire