Evening star., 1900-10-09
Refusal Of Imperial Court to Return
to Pekin.
IT Is NOT AN IRREVOCABLE DECISION
Might Reverse It if Allied Forces
Left the Capital.
WITHDRAWAL OFOURTROOPs

Neither automatically nor from a military
point of view has there been any change in
the Chinese situation here since the recep-
tion Of the French note. 1t is conceded that
the failure Of the effort to induce the Chi
nese court to return to Pekin has done
much to retard the peace negotiations, al
though these are still possible If the author
ity conferred upon Lii Hung Chang and
Prince Ching is sufficient.
The last development has rather thrown
the French note into the background and
the impression prevails here that the neces-
sity for speedy action that note has
disappeared with the diminution of the
chances for the courts return to Pekin.
General Chafee's Withdrawal.
Meanwhile General Chaffee continues to
execute the program for the withdrawal of
the American military forces already out
lined, and he has notified the War Depart
ment that he will have all of his men, ex-
cept the legation guard, out of China in
side of a fortnight. The American troops
Will take no further part in any military
operations in China, unless they are attack
ed, which is not believed to be probable.
The officials do not believe that they par
ticipated in the taking of Shan-hai-kwan,
Notwithstanding the Russian admiraPs re-
port to that effect, the sense of General
such participation.
Return of the Imperial Court.
The Chinese minister said today that If
the powers regarded it as essential that
the emperor and empress dowager should
return to Pekin, he was quite confident that
could be brought about first by giving posi-
tive assurances for the personal safety Of
their majesties, and then, as a plain evil
dence of that assurance, directing that the
bulk of the allied forces now at Pekn be
withdrawn to Tien Tsn, Yangtsun, some
other point, leaving only a few hundred
troops at Pekin as guard.
Mr.. Wu's statement was brought out by
the announcement he conveyed to the
State Department yesterday that the i'm
Pekin because of the presence there of the
allied forces, and by the regrets over that
announcement, both among officials in
Washington and at foreign capitals.
Presence of Allies a Bar.
II am sorry as any be that
their majesties do not see their way clear
to return to Pekin,'' said Mr. WI. But
under the circumstances is it not natural
that they should take that course? They
have been brought up in extreme exclu-
siveness at Pekin, without knowledge of
the outside world, of the customs of
foreigners. When they withdrew the al
lied forces occupied the. city 1t has been
divided into districts to be patrolled and
managed. 1t is said that the allied troops
have marched through the imperial palace.
These steps have produced a deep effect
upon their majesties.
Suppose the conditions were reversed
and an allied force occupied one Of the
foreign capitals would the ruler return
while the foreign forces were at his capt
tai? 1t is said that the forces are being
reduced to legation guards. But if each
legation guard numbers about 1000 men
hat koS cr1a 70 Of
for the eight powers. or If each quota is
not full, say the aggregate force is about
10000 men. An army of 10000 men is
very considerable force in any city. Con-
slider the influence that an army of 10000
would exert if stationed here in Washing
ton. So that, while l am extremely sorry
that their majesties do not return to Pc
kin, it does not seem surprising under the
existing circumstances that they should
not want to return.
Withdrawal of Allied Forces.
Minister WI was asked what steps could
be taken to bring about their return to
Pekin.
1T seems to me-" he said, that the
most natural course would be to remove
the conditions that stand in the way Of
their return. Any fears they may have
as to their personal safety, growing out Of
the exclusiveness of their past life, and of
the large military force at Pekin,
would De overcome very largely by strong
assurances from the powers for the per-
sonal safety of their majesties. Then, as
clear evidence to them that this safety was
assured, the foreign forces should be with
drawn from the capital, say to Tien Tsin.
AT that point they would be in ready COM
munication with Pekin, for there is rail-
road which the allies can readily put in
operation Tung Chow has been mentioned
as a military garrison, but that is too near
Pekin, and would not be likely to do away
he annrehpnSipn
is too far, then Yangtsun might be a de-
sirable point to garrison the allied forces.
That is detail, however, and the main
point is that If this guarantee is given and
the forces are removed from the capital,
/ have no doubt the return of the emperor
and empress dowager to the capital would
speedily follow"
UHSANITV THE AnNv