The sun., 1900-07-20
TROOPS WILL Be WITHDRAWN
United States Soldiers Are in
China to Rescue Americans
and Nothing Else.
IP RUSSIA MAKES WAR
BeIIigerents VIII be Left TO Fight
Out--ROckhiIl May be Sent
as Special Agent TO the
Far Eastern
Country.
IF RUSSIA MAKES WAR

Washington, July 10 The point Of
special interest in the Chinese situation
this morning Is the threatened declaration
of war against China by Russia ON ac-
count Of the frontier demonstrations, in
dependentiy 81 the action Of the other
Powers. This Government as yet poe
Eesses no information as to The intention 4
OF Russia or the accuracy Of the reports 1
from s.. Petersburg. The Russian Charge |
who cav Secretary Hay this morning, |
could give no information on the sub i
ject.
II war is openly declared between
Russia and China il will materially
change the aspect OF sffairs. According
TO the best available authority, 1t would
speedily put an end to the operations OF
the allied forces. Inasnuch as the United
Ststes has not declared war against China
and does not intend to do so upon the
meagre information now in our posses-
sion, our troops would probably be
speedily withdrawn from China should
there be declaration OF war between
| Russia and China before further develop
meats draw us deeper into the entaDgle-
ment.
Our Troops Couldn't Stay.
II is said that under conditions Of &C.
tual open war there would be no place
for our troops in China uuless We we're
parties to the hostiites, and that, there
lore, il klzsia and China should % 10
var On account of their own troubles,
our troops .oulI BE- withdraNn aud the
twg nations at war ue itit to fight il ont
betWe-n themselves. Il i said that the
only contingency on which we would
maintain an army IN China with such q
condition Oi war existing would be the
deEe .opment of state of facts which
world compel u 70 ourselves declare war
against China-that would be the estab.
lishment of the fact that our Minister at
Pekin tad been murdered, and that tie
Chinese Government vas responsible for
the murder Ii this should become es-
tablised as a fact, it would then be for
Congress 10 determine whether there
should be a declaration OF var, but ia
the absence Of declaration OF var by
Congress there will be no participation
by this Government in hostilities under
the declaration Of war by another Power,
and our troops would be Withdrawn.
From the Leint OF view ofthis Govern
ment the presence of our troops in China
is for the purpose OF rescuing and pro-
. tecting American citizens, not as puni-
tive expedition. The question OF repara-
tion or Of war is thing 10 be considered
apart from the operations for relief and
protection. II reparation is to be had
O for wrong done, we will go about it in
: our own way. As long as the other
] Powers are operating upon the same
. theory Of state Of war not existing, Co
t operation is not only possible, but essen
x tial but it would be impossible for Ut
d to co. operate with Power at war with
/. China, while we were technically not al
war. Until il is ascertained with Ger
tainty that our Minister is dead, or thai
he is alive aud removed from danger from
u the mob, the eli Irt to effect his rescue
y and that Of Americans under his protec
y tion must continue. When all doubt OF
y this point it removed our troops prob
q ably will be withdrawn II a state Of de
e ciared war exists between China and an,
Is other Power la this event, the Ameri
can interests in China will be protectet
by the presence Of as strong a fleet avail
able for the Sci vice az can be assembe'
=. in Chinese waters ana vicinity.
y Mean while, in the absence OF informa
: tion as TO the intentions of Russia an
y China towards each other as independ
= ent Powers, and without knowledge a
u TO whether the Ministers at Pekin nav
,e or have not been murdered, no chang
'H of plan is Contemplated unit! develop
y ments demand il. II the graver questio
u OF dealing with China as nation n
y. ~ sponsible for the murder OF our Ministe
" and his household shall arise, it is sal
that the matter will be proceeded wit
y, in the spirit OF calm deliberation whic
y its immense gravity demands. The will
u drawa OF our troops on account Of
" declaration Of war between Russia an
aH thto - uunt1l6 in y
'n way prejudice our claim upon China Il
~ reparation, nor our right to infiict pui
! ishment for crime committed, nor oil
interest in the maintenance OF the il
tegrity OF the Empire in accordan
with the policy announced by Searetal
Hay.
Rockhili as Special Agent.
~ The President and Cabinet have bee
id considering for the last two or three da.
10 the appointment OF special diplomat
-. representative or agent to China. and
ia probable that within short time e
T? Secretary OF State w. w. Rockhill vi
he appointed to such position. M
Rockhill at present is chiet Of the Bufe;
Of American Republics, but wac Assit
ne ant Secretary OF State under Secreta
Olney, and was also Secretary of Il
~ Legation at Pekin for number of year
~, He has not only had experience
IN China, but he speaks the native Chine
ss .ns language, as well as several dialects.
alt has also travelled extensively in the Ea
ter and has long been considered the autho
ity on Chinese questions. During Il
present situation lie has been consult
"a frequently by Secretary Hay, and ev
ms since the announcement OF the massat
or uf the foreign ministers, including n
the Conger, at Pekin, Secretary Hay h
ent been considering the appointing OF Sol
of oue who can act in diplomatic way
lry China, and through which the State |
,gi- partment can communicate and recei
c1mmuuicalions from the Far East.
would be Impossible at this time to {
point new Minister to China, for thu
las been no official notification of t
y death uf Mini-,er Congrr, nor d.
hile ,hs c..ta DeDartment know who
n the official head of the Chinese Cover
5Nt iuEnt.