The Forrest City times., 1900-09-28
As THE CASE NONaANDS
Gen. Chaffee Believed to Have, BY
This Time, Received His
Instructions.
PROMPT ACTION ON HIS PART DESIRED,
r. RAND Trend of Events in Chins
Toward Actual ana Formai Wnf
Regarded as Justifying the Dect.
.,on Of the state Department to
withdraw.

washington, Sept. 27.-It is believe
that Gen. Chaffee, being at Ten Tsln
has bv this time received the instruc'
+;ors cabled him Tuesday relative to
tho reduction of his force in China. II
he returns TO Pekin to execute the or
aar II will be Monday, at least, be
core he can begin the movement to-
ward Tien Tsin. 1t is thought here
tbat with view to preventing any
nossihle Misunderstanding, he al.
ready has acquainted the military
representatives of the powers at Tier
Tsin of the probab BILE withdrawal oj
the American forces.
why Expedition IL Necessary.
This is deemed more necessary be.
cause of the possibility of the APP.
pearance of Field Marshal Won Wal,
dersee at Taku or Tien Tsin at any
moment. 1t is desirable that the
change of the status of the American
troops shall have taken place before
he appears on the scene.
The Trend Towards Actual War.
The rapid trend of events in Chi
ma toward actual and formal war
which is regarded as certain to follow
a refusal on the part of Germany and
some of the other continental power,
to enter into negotiations for set.
tiement with China, ia regarded here
as justifying the decision of the state
department to withdraw the Ameri
can troops, now that the purpose fol
which these troops were sent into
China has been accomplished.
State Departments Contention.
The department has held from the
first that a state of war did not exist
with the Chinese government, and il
secured the assent of every one of the
powers TO that proposition. 1t still
does not believe there is sufficient
ground for changing that position
and refuses to be drawn into wal
without such ground
Can Only he Conjectured.
What effect, if any, declaration OF
war upon China by Germany alone OF
in alliance with other powers woulo
have upon the negotiations which Mr.
Conger has in hand can only be con.
Jectured. Mr.. Conger was to arrange
the preliminaries for meeting be
tween the representatives of the pow
ers and China with view to effect
ing harmonious settlement. His
action was not TO be mandatory in
any sense upon any power, and eacl
was free 10 reject the good Offices o.
the United States if it saw fit.
Failure. Wouldn't Involve Much
Change.
A failure of Mr.. Conger's effort
would not involve much change in the
American programme. Our govern
ment would simply be obliged to dea
directly with China, with a view t.
the protection of our interests, aban
doning any further efforts to bring
The powers into harmony in the set
Element.
Plans VIII Remain Unchanged.
AS to the military plans already
laid down, they will remain un
changed, it is said here. If the bel
hgerent power or powers seize upon
Pekin the American minister will
still remain there and Gen. Chaffee's
legation guard will stay with him
but taking no part in the war.
Can Find No Valid objection.
The power in possession can find
no valid objection to the presence Of
this legation guard. At Constantine.
pie the legations and embassies all
have their cavasses or legation
guards, and while they are not nu-
merous, the principle is recognized
and mere numbers does not affect it.