Smyrna times., 1900-08-22


the past six weeks than any other part
of the globe, South Africa not ex-
cepted The chief interest was in the
Legations of the civilized nations who
were shut up in Pekin, with continued
attacks by the Boxers. Happily, by a
determined effort the Allies, 10000
strong, reached Pekin on Wednesday
and relieved the Legations. The next
question is, how shall China be treated
for her pertidy?
The Philadelphia Record IN an edi-
torial headed, CATER Pekin, What
Then" says:
''Instead of period of diplomatic
parleying, the Chinese Government
has chosen a speel ly surrender as the
easiest way out of the dilemma forced
upon it by the Boxer outbreak. The
allies are in Pekin; the ENJOYS and
foreign residents are safe; the imperial
troops have been scattered, and the
Emperor and Dowager Empress have
fed with Prince Tuan and the bulk of
the armed force under his command,
taking with them the imperial achives,
sacred writings and seal of the Empire.
Such is the purport of the latest news
from the Chinese capital, coming from
official sources and admitting of no
doubt to its authenticity. Uuable to
sustain itself against either foreign in
vasion or domestic rebellion, the I'm
perial Government has abandoned all
pretense of control, and has left rare
opportunity open for the advent of
new and more progressive and en-
ightened regime. After the impress
sive demonstration of superior power
in the allies march from Teinstin to
Pekin it should be impossible to renew
in Chinese official circles the traditional
assumption of lordship and mastery
over the outside barbarians. If new
Emperor should be chosen and new
Foreign Council be established at
Pekin there would be little danger of
a reaction founded upon anti-fcreign
prejudices.
AS far as the United States Govern
pent and the American people are con-
&erned the shifting of authority and
the changing of dynasties at the Chi
nese capital will be of little conse-
quence. We seek no new "spheres of
influence" in Eastern Asia, having al
ready in the PHILIPPINES a problem
knotty and difficult enough to last this
country for hundred years. Freedom
to trade throughout China, with COM
merical rights on an even plane with
those of our rivals in international
traffic; fair and liberal treatment for
Americans sojourning in the Celestial
Kingdom and assurances of ample
reparation for injuries in the past
these constitute practically the only
conditions which the United would be
justified IN imposing upon the central
authority which shall hereafter exer-
else power Throughout the Chinese En-
pire. With Minister Conger and his
attaches and guard safe there will nc
longer be any occasion or excuse for
the presence of American troops in
Chinese territory.
This consideration would not apply,
on many accounts, to other Powers
which have joined in the work of relief
To some of these-notably Great Bri
tain, Russia and Germany-the trap
ping of the ENJOYS by Pekin mol
and the subsequent assaults upon then
by imperial soldiers have afforded 6
long sought opportunity to set about
territorial acquisitions in Eastern
Asia that have long been contemplated
Russia has already seized the treaty
port of New Chwang, the outlet OIL
Liautung Gulf of the vast territory o.
Manchuria; British troops have beer
landed at Shanghai, with scarcely con
cealed intent to control the Yangtse Val
ley, and Germany has embarked di
vision of fresh troops for Kiau Chol
Bay, with a German Field Marsha
in command and charged with mission
Of reparation and vengeance. Thes
three nations are the chief rth-hung
erers who seek undisguisedly parti
ton of China, having regard only I,
impossible Interior advantages o
traffic and colonization for themselves