Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-09-01
THE CHINESE TROUBLES.


the diplomatic situation in regard to
China has now been reached. Cores
pondeuce made public in Washington
yesterday shows that the United States
has taken what is considered practically
a fixed position in accord with Russia
as to the preliminary steps for settling
the trouble.
NJ. de Wollsnt, Russian Charge DAT
flares, in statement to Acting Secret
ary of State Adee, declared that Russia
has no territorial designs on China, and
will withdraw her troops from Much.
wang "if action of other powers be no
obstacle thereto" Russia has directed
her Minister to retire from Pekln,
China, and announced that 1.-THE Rue
sian troops will be entirely withdrawn"
presumably from all Of China, too.
The respoi SO of the United States is
to the effect that this country would
prefer a joint occupation of Pekin for
the present, but that occupation would
be nefiec i've unless all the powers were
harmonious in maintaining it. The
withdrawal OF troops from Pekin by
one power, it is held, would make it
expedient for all TO withdraw. There
fore, according to the view taken in the
United States note, "unles3 there is
such general expression by the pow
ers in favor OF continued occupation as
10 modify the views expressed by the
Government OF Russia and lead to
general agreement for continued oc-
cupatioD, we shall give Instructions to
the commander OF the Americon forces
in China to withdraw our troops from
Pekin after due conference with the
other commanders as to the time and
manner OF withdrawal"
The United States, it will be observ-
ed, contemplates the withdrawal OF its
troops from Pekin only, but Russia APP
parently proposes to remove hers from
the Chinese Empire. 1t is said unof'
ficially 10 Washington that Russia is
probably adopting her present course
because she does not wish a clash
among the powers to arise until her
Siberian railroad is finished and until
she is better prepared financially to
wage a great war. President McKiD-
ley, it is believed, is deeply involved in
the Chinese muddle and seeks q way
out, which Russia, alone OF all the pow
ers, affords.
The note defining the attitude of the
United States has been sent to the
European and japanese Foreign offices.
SO far only Germany aud Great Britain
have answered. Both promise consid-
GRAFTON of the question, but give 10
definite statement Of policy. Berlin
dispatches state that Germany Is sur.
prised by the course OF the Unit,
States and n Russia. If the troops
are Withdrawn from Pekin there
must be material change Ia the pro-
gramme for Count Won Waldersee's ex-
petition. In London official circles it
ia believed that the American. Russian
proposal will be adopted, but the press
crticises Americas course, being 10th
to believe that this country should be
acting with Russia.
In response to cablegram ofinquiry
sent Ii HungChang, the Chinese states.
man cables that the withdrawal of for
eign troops IRON Pekin would facili-
tate peace negotiations, and that no
doubt need be entertained that he
would undertake to restore order, pro-
iect foreigners and punish and suppress
the Boxers.
1t was authoritatively stated in Ber-
lin last night that Germany had not
yet answered Russis's request to with
draw from Pekin, but the German gov
eminent is ready to acknowledge Lii
Hung Chang as Chns's representative
in peace negotiations if he shows him
self properly accredited.
The British ministers discussed the
American note, but it is believed that
they will continue to discredit Ii Hung
Chang and urge that negotiations will
be useless unless undertaken with the |
representatives OF Chinese govern
ment that can he considered stable.
General Rennenksmpf, according to |
advices received at st. Petersburg, in
formed the Chinese that he had no all. |
thority to negotiate, although they Of |
fered to cease hostilities, and that he |
would push on to Ts Tsi Kar.
An official dispatch received at the |
japanese Legation in Washington states |
that the troops who took part in the re-
lief OF Pekin were as follows: Ameri- |
cans, 1925: Japanese, 1870; Russians,
3 $50; British, 2.232; French, 400; total,
15,207. As large number OF court |
ladies were found in the palace, every |
precsution was taken by the japanese |
forces to supply them and assurances
were given them OF the readiness of the |
Japanese forces to supply them at any
moment with food and other necessa-
ries,