The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-09-09

WdbNinkiOE tUdt vvVV American tFuOpa
shall be divided between Pekin. Tien
Tsln and Taku for the winter
NEW YORK. Sept. s.--A dispatch to
the Tribune from Lccdon says:
The English press does rot like he
game Of blindman's bun now in prog
ress in Pekin, but II Is not prepared to
say 50 plainly II was without adyices
respecting the Russian proposal for the
withdrawal Of troops from the Chinese
capital and the oracIes in the Vosges
are silent now in regard 70 the German
adaptation Of that scheme for negotiat-
ing with the empress dowager and
mandarins instead Of cutting off their
heads Or furnishing them otherwise.
The English press when In doubt
takes strong line and busters. It has
done this on general principles since the
foreign legations were attacked and
has insisted that the empress dowager
must be deposed and the guilty man
darIns be punished and adequate safe
guards be taken to prevent the recur-
renee Of the outrages and crimes
against civilization. It has never ex-
planned how this could be done unless
the powers were prepared to assume re-
sponslbillty of dividing and governing
China
The solution which would have been
popular In England would have been
the adoption by the American govern
nient Of distinctly punitive policy.
enforced by the employment Of an army
Of 25.OOO or 10000. The British govern
ment would have followed the lead OF
the American state department and
have largely increased its own mill
tary forces in China for the purp )se Of
securing the punishment Of guilty man
darins. dethronefnent Of the empress
iowager and the reorganization Of the
imperial government.
Since the state department has not
taken this course the foreign Office here
has adopted a policy Of mastery irac-
tivity and has been prepared to ac-
quiesce in any arrangements which may
be made by Russia and Germany.
Russia began proposing plan which
would enable the empress dowager and
mandarins to return to Pekin and es-
cape punishment. Germany has not
rejected this scheme outright. but has
reduced # to a measure for partial
withdrawal Of the European. Japanese
and American forces; so that Count
Won waidersee. when he arrives win
have at least a small international force
to command and something to do which
will be dignified and conspicuous.
Other notifications may be proposed
by the United States Or the other pow
ers but it may be safely assumed that
the British foreign office win assent to
any policy which secures general
agreement Of the powers and obviates
the necessity for a partition Of China
and acceptance Of administrative re-
sponsibility on a stupendous scale
over vast hives Of population. No Eng
li5h journal says this at present. but
compromise may be read between the
lines of every leading article. The Brit
ism foreign otlce has no alternative pol
icy and win be content to allow Russia
to score heavily provided the dignity
of the German emperor is saved and the
China question disposed Of or temporar-
ily shunted without partition Of the
empire.
Apart from the press there Is little
discussion of the situation in China in
clubs or diplomatic circles. Mr.. Drod-
eriek is not in London and Lord Sails
bury is surveying the hills and out Ct
touch with his colleagues and subordi-
mates. Country houses. hunting fields
and golf links are the usual centres of
diplomacy in England at this time of
year, but the talk there now runs on the
general elections and the choice of can
didates for doubtful districts. The
American ambassador has started for
Germany and Engadlne. leaving Henry
White in charge of the embassy for a
month. Other ambassadors are also
out of London.
The China question is falling into the
background because the British foreign !
Office is not taking an active part in
settling it, but is allowing Russia and |
Germany to adapt themselves TO the
situation and at the same time avoiding |
all appearance Of weakness and irreso-
luton.
The st. James Gazette persists in
the belief that the powers will remain |
in Pekln and that the International !
forces viii be compelled to go else
where in China. since disturbances
will inevitably ensue when the provin-
ces are convinced that the conquest
and partition of the country are
threatened.
A more reasonable view is that Rus
sla and Germany will come to some
agreement by which the heads of the
mandarins will be saved and the Inn
perial government restored, with tenn
porary garrisons for the foreign quarter
until compensations can be arranged
for Russia, Japan and Germany,
This agreement will not be satisfac-
tory to the English people, and there
win be disposition to blame the
American government for not taking
stronger lire Of action. Mastery in
activity has at least one advantage for
a nation preoccupied with the Boer war,
in leaving it free to grumble and COM
plain.