The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-31
oHINA,s ANXIETY.
Tt Is For Foreign Occupation to End
as Early as Possible.

as Early as Possible.
New York, Dec. s1-A SPECIAL to the
Herald from Washington says:
China is anxious that foreign occupa-
tion of her territory shall come to ar
end as promptly as possible. as it is con
stantly causing disorder and is an OBJ
stacle to a peaceful adjustment Of af-
fairs.
IN view of the prospect that each ma
ton will hereafter maintain a legation
guard in Pekin, China is anxious that 1t
shall be reduced to as small q number
as the powers can be induced to desig
nate. China regards the American force
constituting theAmerican legation guard
as altogether too large 1t numbers 1900
men, but Chinese diplomats here point
out that If each nation maintains
guard Of this strength Pekin will be un-
der the control of force of IA, 400 foreign
troops. There are now in China about
100000 allied troops. Officials of the ad-
miniStrat1On insist that it is absolutely
necessary to maintain in PeIxin the force
now there. declaring that the interests Of
the United States could not be protected
with a smaller number. Gen. Chaffee is
IN control Of a section of Pekin, and a
few days ago sent out an expedition to d
point south of the city. Adjutant Gen
eral Corbin denied today most emphatl-
cally that this column was in any sense
punitive. There are to be no executions
nor is there to be any interference with
Chinese officials; the duty of the column
is to rescue some missionaries and re-
turn with them to Fekin.
1t is the belief of Chinese diplomats ii
Washington that had Minister Conger
communicated to Prince Ching and Ii
Hung Chang the danger IN which the
American missionaries were supposed to
be the Chinese authorities would imme-
diately have taken measures for their
rescue and protection from injury. It is
expected that as a result of the Ameri-
can expedition the American troops will
be confOunded with those of other DOW
ers which have been guilty of atrocities
and the hatred felt for the Germans.
British and others will extend to the
Americans.
China feels able at this juncture, it is
said to protect all foreigners and it seems
to be the belief here that the reports of
danger to American missionaries are got
ten up to prevent a solution of the Chi
nese question.
In view of China's preservation of order
outside of Pelin, and of her Willingness
to protect foreigners and the fact that
the imperial court whose presence in Pc
kin is so desirable. will not return to the
capital until the foreign troops leave. well
Informed public men here a$e advocaf ting
the immediate withdrawal of General
Chanee's command and its dispatch to the
Fnlllppines, where regulars are needed to
return beginning next month, to San
Francisco.
.Adjutant General Corbin said last night
that the American troops in Chins- are
the Ninth regiment OF infantry, one squad
t
of the Fifth artillery. Since October g SEQ
men have left China and proceeded to the
Philippines.
There is no doubt that the administers
ton is anxious to terminate the occupa-
ton Of China by foreign troops and ii is
stated positively that as soon as this can
be done General ChafTee's command will
be Withdrawn, the United States merely
reserving the right to maintain a lega-
ton guard in Pekin. the privilege to be
taken advantage of in case the American
legation should again be endangered. All
and the province of Chi Ii an ex-
ceedingly strong force, both to impress
each other and repress China The with
draWal of all the American troops at this
luncture would. administration officials
1ear, cause a loss of prestige by this gov
ernment and prevent Minister Conger
maintaining the commanding position he
now occupies.
As explained by an administration Of
nciaL the situation in the Philippines re-
quires that all American troops available
shall be stationed in the archipelago
There are less than $1,000 effectives in the
islands Major General Macarthur thinks
the situation demands that there should
be at least this number of effectives