The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-17
Circulation Statement.
The Relief of the Legations.

After weeks Of painful suspense and anx-
ietv at last We have the welcome news
that the allied troops have entered Pekin
and rescued the legation people and other
foreigners. apparently without opposition
That terror is out of the way, and by to-
morrow everybody in this country and Eu-
rope Will be asking: What next? AS our
dispatches SO far indicate, the Empress
Dowager. her generalissimo, the Prince or
Tuan and her court have retreated from
Pekin into the interior. There is nobody
at the capital capable of settling the bills
which must now be presented by this and
other countries. but the allies will not
mind that They will proceed to restore
order and TO acquire security for indem-
nifty in the future. What this Government
will do IN the changed circumstances re-
mains to be seen.
If Mir Mckinley has determined that
there shall be no scuttling policy IN
China. ChafTee Will remain and act as a
collection agency But he Will also have
to cooperate with the other generals in
military operations if the United States
is to have any standing in the interna-
tfonal congress which will be called very
soon; unless its intending members should
first happen to fly at each others threats.
That there is danger of something of the
sort the Shanghai incident shows We re-
greet to observe that it is not yet closed.
England brought troops TO land in the
city. All the consuls but the British and
American protested. France said she
Theu The British transports steamed
north under orders from London. But to-
day we hear that fast torpedo boat has
been sent to oyertake and recall them and
probably the soldiers will be disembarked
after all. That act may possibly be the
beginning of trouble, although We hope
not. 1t does not seem just for Russia to
complain since the Cars ensign has been
raised over Ntuchwang. Indicating, as
most people in Europe seem to think, that
the future Russian sphere of influence is
to include pretty much all Of Northern
China The paramountcy of Great Britain
in the Yangtze Valley, if complete and
accomplished would hardly be more than
an offset to the practical possession by
Russia of Niuchwang. Manchuria, the
upper half of Pe-chi-Ii Province, and, very
likely the Shing- king Peninsula, or most
of it.
Differences are certain to arise between
the powers before any final, or even tenn
porary, settlement OF the Chinese ques-
ton can be reached; but it may very well
De that they Will not develop beyond the
point of diplomatic control. All the in
terested states, this one perhaps excepted,
now that their represen tatives are safe,
Will proceed to punish the Chinese Gov
eminent for its fanaicaI and hIdeous wal
upon civilization.
If The United States should hold aloof,
as we have repeatedly suggested, it would
hardly receive any support from the others
IN its efforts to secure the payment OF
damages, and might be thwarted by them
Yet to continue a war which has been
without the authority of our only war
making power. would be highly dangerous
20 the Administration, and, therefore. if
future punitive operations were contem-
plated, il would be necessary 10 convene
Congress. That possibility, of course, is
viewed with abject terror by the advisers
of the President, and, as a consequence
the "scu1tling policy" in China is the one
most naturally to be looked for