The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-09

Washington, September S.--Orders nave
| been cabled to General Chaffee TO prepare
his forces for withdrawal from Pekin
Further than that. the war department
has taken steps to have at Taku suffi-
cient number of United states transports
to remove the troops to the Philippines
as soon as they reach the port.
These orders are preparatory and do
not necessarily indicate that our govern
ment has decided finally upon immediate
Withdrawal from China 1t is simply plac-
Ing itself In position to carry out the
pledge conveyed in the reply TO tho Rus
Sian note in this language: The result
OF the considerations is that. unless there
is a general expression by the powers in
favor OF continued occupation, we shall
give instructions to the American forces
In China to withdraw our troops from
Pekn. after due confeiNnce With the other
commanders as to the time and manner
of withdrawal"
Up to the present moment our govern
ment has not changed its policy in this
matter of Withdrawing troops. 1t has
given the subject much consideration
since the original note was written. but
at all times there has been kept steadily
in mind thu propriety OF removing the
American troops from China as soon as
this could be done consistently, 1t Ii
intimated that the prospect for securing
these objects through completely har-
moaious action by tae powers is brighten
ing every day. 1t is felt that this is a
tlIpe for compromise positions as between
the Russian and German designs On
China. and such propositions now form
the substance OF nearly all the diplomatic
exchanges which are In progress Tao
continued quiet in Pekin. tending to re-
assure the Chinese officials is believed
10 be rapidly fastening negotiations Tor 4
anal settlement. There is the best rea-
son TO believe that were the Chinese gov
eminent once assured of The personal
safety OF Its members; were 1t relieved OF
fear OF dismem berment OF China ana
the menace OF a large foreign forlG in
the capital. The imperial court including
the emperor and empress dowaKor, would
lose no time in returning to Pekin and
opening negotiations for 4 settlement.
Hence The suggestion has been thrown
out that the allied forces IN Pekin b.
the immediate safety OF the legations,
while tho remaining forces retire beyond
the walled city perhaps to Tien Tsin, ana
II the progress of the ip2, citations seem
to warrant they will perhaps he with
drawn altogether from Chinese soil There
are only two obstacles to the execution
of this plan One is the difficulty o
tI1mlnS suitable guarantees for the COu-
duct to satisfactory conclusion OF the
negotiations for final settlement The
other is the uncompromising attitude OF
Que Of the powers. 1t Is now believed
that The difficulty as to guarantees can
be satisfactorily adjusted. The other OBJ
staclls may be overcome by threatened
Isolation OK the refractory powers fer II
is believed that no power would care to
pursue q War upon China when the other
powers had deliberately Expressed their
Judgment that further hoetilitles we're un-
warranted. BesiAe5, hcstilitsS under sucl
conditions, tending to inJure the interests
OF other pcWers in China, might be re-
garded by them as authorizing u
lust demand upon the single power for
guarantees. which would be very difficult
10 meet.
For this reason, 1t is hoped that the
powers can be- brought TO act In harmony
in the matter of the evacuation OF Pok!n
and 1t Is entirely possible, Ii this pan
is executed, that al the American troops.
rave small number left to guard thu
legations. can be withdrawn from China
before winter sets In. II Will not be
necessary TO delay the negotiations untl
tho evacuation is completed. Even now
our government, for one. Is In position
to begin them instantly upon the appear
ance of properly accredited representa-
tives OF the Chinese government. or
course 1t is preferable that all al the
powers Interested take the same view
OF these credentials. and this government
is devotins it's entire efforts at The pres
ent moment toward securing harmony
of action to this end and to Fastening
the opening OF final negotiations.