The sun., 1900-09-03
IT'S UP TOTHE POWERS
Chinese Negotiations Awaiting Reply
to Russo-American Proposals..
NO ANSWERS YET RECEIVED
II Is Thought That plan to with
draw From Peising VIII Ultimate
Iy BE Adopted--Great Interest
In Great Britnin's Course.

Washington, Sept. 2.-The entire
course of negotiations on the Chinese
question is now dependent upon the re-
spDnses. OF the powers to the Russo
American proposals. 1t was stated au-
thoritatively that no answers had been
received from any source other than
those of Il preliminary and inconclusive
character heretofore announced. More
over, il is stated by responsible admins
traton officials that not until the last
answer is received will the negotiations
assume any definite form, rs the last
answer may prove to be the dissent from
ali international accord, toward which all
efforts are now bending.
Much interest was aroused by the dis
patch floM 81. Petersburg giving the full
text of the Russian proposal, as it cleared
up some discrepancies which had existed
owing 10 the oial nature Of the conlnu-
nicution nude to this government by
the Russian charge. BY far the most
important correction it makes is in dis
CLOSING that kuS.ia has not ordered her
minister and troops to withdraw from
China" MS was stated in the American
paiaphrnse of the proposal but that she
intend, 10 recall NJ. De Gicrs and his
staff RIO Tlen-tsin." III short, RUSSIA
has not announced purpose to withdraw
from CHM, but only to withdraw from
peking.
AS the negotiations progress the Wow
is siren gthcued among officials That the
Russo American plan of withdrawing
from pcliinS ultimately will be concurred
in by all Of the powers. In diplomatic
quarters this outcome is looked upon as
practically assured. 1t is pointed out
II nd IN
anese troops are withdrawn from Peking
the other powers would not have 5000
men remaining there, which would be a
force utterly inadequate to garrison and
defend the capital. The British force
now at Peking is said to number $500
men, and the German force is only few
hundred. On the other hand, the Russ
sian and japanese contingents are very
large, and with their withdrawal the
main strength of the allies at Peking
would be taken away. AS matter of
necessity therefore, it is held that the
withdrawal of the larger forces will COM
pel the smaller forces of Great Britain
and Germany to leave mt the same time.
Germany's Probable Course.
The brief answer which Germany al
ready has made to this government states
that any general consideration of the
proposition will be dependent upon inqui-
ries as to the condition of affairs at Pc
king. These inquiries are now in prog
ross through the German officials at the
Chinese capital and their responses are
expected to form the basis of Germany S
general answer. Those in position to take
an intelligent view Of Germany's course
say there is little doubt of Germany
acceptance. One of the chief reasons set
forth for this course is that, after ALL the
question Of staying in Peking is of see
ondary' importance and is quite insigniti
cant compared with the farreaching ques
tion Of maintaining an accord among
those continental nations which thus fal
have acted together, not only as to China
but as to many other questions of genera
policy. In short it is felt that Germany's
accord with Russia and other continental
nations is Of primary Importance, where
as the holding of Pcking is of secondary
Importance. ana in such circumstance,
the primary consideration will prevail.
The course Of the British government
is being awaited with keen interest, moi
only for its effect upon the present qucs
tion, but bccnusc of the part il will hav'
in maintaining the accord between Tho
powers. There is noticeable feeling
among some of the foreign representa-
tives here that Great Britain will declin,
to accept the plan and will thereby be
come isolated from the rest of the pow
ers. In this connection the present stu
alton is being compared to that at tn
close of the JapanChina war, when Rus
sia Germany and France formed tripl
alliance which practically determined th
results of the conflict. The issue at tina
time was as to Japan's holding Chimes
territory, particularly the Liau Tong pen
insula. Great Britain declined to inter
vene and to certain extent became iso
lated, while Russia. Germany and Franc
by their united action made it imperativ
that the peace settlement should be tn
basis Of Japan's eventual Withdrawal
from the mainland of Asia. 1t was re
marked in a well posted diplomatic qual
ter that Great Britain's hesitation at thi
time might bring about repetition o
the Japan-China alliance, in which event
the opinion was expressed, British infu
ence in the far east would be shaken ma
terially, if not entirely broken.