The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-25
Criticism of Our Decision Re-
garding China.
BERLIN AND LONDON DISAPPROvE.
Likely 20 Retard Settlement Of the Dim.
Msse on thisese hanse OF
Attitude Toward the Boxers as Reflected
Ia a Recent imperial Eaiet-hepsrt that
Emperor VIII Never Return TO Pekin.

Berlin. Sept. 25.-Dlseussing the answer
Of the United States government to Ger
nany's proposal regarding the Chinese
settlement, the Vossische Ze!tung says to-
day:
Americas abandonment OF the concert
Of the powers viii not have serious eonse-
qGences for their diplomatic negotiations,
but IL will render their task more diff
cult, lnasmueh as nothing so increases
Chinese presumption and insolenee as the
knowledge that harmony in the ranks of
their opponents has been disturbed. The
action OF the United States is equivalent
10 an abandonment Of the common inter-
ests Of Occidental civilization and proba-
bly, will lead to a prolongation of this
bloodshed."
London, Sept. A-3:3O a. m.-The morn
Ing papers are too fully occupied with the
general election to bestow much atten-
ton upon the Chinese problem. The SIAN
dard, which discussed editorially the re-
plies Of the United States government.
says:
The policy thus laid down implies the
existence at Washington of very exag-
gcrated estimate OF the good viii of the
Chinese rulers. II is 10 be feared that
the action OF the United States will tend
TO weaken the moral influence Of the al
lies. and for this reason II is to be greatly
regretted"
Pekin Abandoned a Ca pitaI.
According TO the Pekin correspondent OF
the Daily News. wiring September ls the
Chinese declare most positivesiy that the
Empress Dowager and the Emperor will
in no case return to the imperial palace
in Pekin, as they hold that II has been
desecrated by the intrusion of barbarians.
This irreconcilable attitude receives
confirmation in many reports emanating
from Shanghai. One Of these is that, as
a reply to the denunciation of Prince
Tuan and others by the viceroys, an i'm
perial edict, dated September II, deals
most leniently with the Boxer movement.
and reminds the people that both the
Boxers and Chinese Christians are China
men who shall receive imperial protection
II they quickly disperse to their homes.
The edict points out that it is impossible
for the imperial government to distin-
guish between good and bad Boxers. II
says, however, that If the rebel Boxers
still continue to assemble they will be
dealt with summarily..
Another report asserts that the edict
frankly declares that no executions can be
sanctioned until an adequate inquiry has
been made
Further indications that Prince Tuan
has resumed his former ascendancy are
found in the Shanghai reports OF his pro-
motion and in the statement from the
same quarter that Gen. Tung Fuh Slang
has been appointed generalissimo of the
northern Chinese armies and Prince
Chaung, deputy commander-in-chief of the
Boxers. haS been made a grand councior.
1t is also reported that Lob, former gov
ernor of Kiang Su province, a Manchu
and bitterly anti-forelgn, has been ap.
pointed to succeed Ii Hung Chang a,
Canton.
Too Late 20 Capture Garrison.
According 10 various accounts Of the
Peitang affair. the Chinese had antlci-
pated that the allies would attack in
force. The Britishers and others who
left Tientsin with the intention of cutting
off the retreat Of the Peitang garrison
arrived too late. They were only hall
way TO their destination when the forts
were captured.
The Tientsin correspondent of the
Standard explains that the Russians re.
fused to provide trains for this force. but
gave the Germans and Austrians ample
notice and railway accommodations. Ad-
vices 10 the Standard from Shanghai
place the losses of the allies before Pei
tang as 800. principally due to the explo-
sion of mines. one of which, 200 yards
long, exploded like an earthquake, killing
and wounding large numbers, and liter
ally blowing tive mounted officers 70
pieces.
The Standard publishes a belated tele-
gram from Tientsin, giving an illustra ton
of the international difficulties. It ap-
pears that the British at Feng Tai guar
anteed safety 10 the natives If the railway
property We're restored. Accordingly the
men returned; but few days later the
Russians arrived and killed them all iust
outside the British lines.