The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-26
TIE PRESIDENTS CHINESE POLICY

TIE PRESIDENTS CHINESE POLICY
Our troops are not to be withdra " n
from Pekin Immediately Gen. Chaffee
has recommended their withdrawal just
as soon as the foreigners in Pekin have
been sent to places of safety. and the
very general sentiment of the country sus-
tains this recommendation. II seems that
the President thinks that Gen. Chaffee and
the people do not understand the condi-
lions in China-that is the political condi-
tions-and, therefore, he viii follow his
own judgment. He may be right. No
doubt he is aiming to do what ne THINKS
is for the best interest of the country.
There is nothing for him TO gain, from the
standpoint of politics. by keeping troops
in Pekin Besides. he runs the risk of
making a mistake, ana a mistake in so i'm
portant a matter would be very injurious
to his administration and his party.
The chief reason why the feeling
throughout the country is in favor of an
early withdrawal from Pekin, is the de-
sire that this country shall not become en-
tangled in any of the schemes which Eu
ropean Powers may have for the dismem-
berment of the Chinese empire. or for the
grabbing of Chinese territory. It is al
most certain that the present good feeling
between the Powers respecting Chinese
affairs will not be maintained very long.
Already there are signs of trouble. II
our troops are Withdrawn from China we
shall be out of the trouble when it comes.
1t may be that the President thinks our
interests will suffer if we are not on the
ground to protect them. There is some
thing. of course, in that view, but would
1t not be better to take the risk of our in
terests suffering a little rather than TO
take the chances of becoming engaged in
a conflict with European Powers over pol
icies in respect to China?
1t is certain that our government win
not take the view of the situation in
China that Russia and Germany will take.
1t looks as if each of them is preparing
to insist upon the adoption Of its view.
Russia is sending a mighty army into
China, Notwithstanding the fact that there
is no need Of an army there now, and
Germany has a large force on the way
there. The latter power took one of
China's best ports and a large slice Of
contiguous territory as indemnity for the
lives of two missionaries. She may want
half of the Chinese empire as indemnity
for the assassination of her minister.
The only good reason that has been ad-
vanced for keeping our troops at Pekin
until a settlement is reached is that the
Chinese would construe our withdrawal as
a retreat and would refuse to grant us
as good terms in settlement of our claims
as if we had soldiers in their capital. The
Chinese minister at Washington, however,
would be able TO make his government I'M
derstand that our withdrawal was in the
interest of peace and for the purpose OF
fastening a settlement favorable to China
It is safe to say that il our troops are
not withdrawn soon their stay In Pekin
will be a much longer one than is now
thought probable. Negotiations are likely
to be long drawn out, with the danger of
trouble between the Powers ever present
If the President should act in harmony
with the very general feeling of the coun-
trv in this matter it is doubtful if he would
ever have cause to regret it.