The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-11
TO EVACUATE CHINA
ORDERS TO PREPARE THEREFOR Is
SUED TO GENERAL CHAfFeE
TRANSPORTS ORDERED TO TAKU
To be Ready to Take the Troops to the
Philippines in Case Withdrawal
From China Should be Positively De-
termined Upon n-The Matter Now
Ringing Upon Results of a Compro-
mise Between Russia and Germany.
No Late News From PekIn

Washington, September s.-Orders
have been cabled to General Chaffee to
prepare his forces for withdrawal from
Pekin. Further than that. the war de-
partment has taken steps TO have at
Taku sufficient number United States
transports to remove these troops to
the Philippines as soon as they reach
the port. These orders are prepara-
tory, and do not ncessarliy indicate
that our government has decided final
ly upon an immediate withdrawal from
China 1t is simply placing itself In
position to carry out the pledge con-
veyed in the reply 20 the Russian note
in this language;
THE result of these considerations
is that. unless there is such d general
expression by the powers in favor of
continued occupation as to modify
tho viAws EXPRESSED by the govern
ment of Russia and lead to a general
agreement for continued occ Ipation,
we shall give instructions 20 the
American forces in China 20 withdraw
our troops from Pekin after due con-
ference with the other commanders as
to the time and maner of withdrawal.
has not changed it's policy in this mat
ter of withdrawing our troops from
China as soon as this could be done
consistently.
"It is intimated that the prospect
for securing these objects through COM
pletely harmonious action by the pow
ers is Frightening every day. 1t is felt
that this is a time for compromise
propositions, as between the Russian
| and German designs in China, and such
propositions now form the substance
of nearly all the diplomatic exchanges
which are in daily progress.
The continuance of quiet in Pekin,
tending to reassure the Chinese Off
| cials. is believed to be rapidly hasten
| ing negotiations for a final settlement
| There is the best reason 10 believe that
we're the Chinese government once as
| SIRED the personal safety of its MEM
| bers; were It relieved Of a fear of a
menace of a large foreign force in the
capital. the imperial court, including
| the emperor and empress dewager,
would lose no time in returning to Pc
kin and opening negotiations fer a set
| tlement. Hence the suggestion has
| been thrown out that the allied forces
| in Pekin be reduced to a number suffi-
! cient to insure the immediate safety
| of the legations, while the remaining
| forces retire beyond the walled city,
| perhaps to Tfen Tsin and if the prog
| reSs OF the negotiations seSsn to war
| rant it, perhaps be withdrawn alto
| gether from Chinese soil.
| There are. e.only two obstacles to the
execution of this plan. One is the diff
Guilty of framing a suitable guarantee
| for the continuance to a SauSfactorg
| conclusion of the negot1S tionS for 6
| final settlement. The Other is the IN
compromising attitude Of one of tn
| powers. 1t is now believed that the
| difficulty a to guarantees can b.
| satisfactorily adjusted. The other Dt
| stacle may he over come by threat
| ened isolatisl of the refre pou>s-
| for it is beh eyed that nc one power
| would care to pursue t. war upoI
| China when the other pseTers had Ne
| liberately expressed their judgmnt that
| further hostilities were unwarranted
| Beside. hest-iitieS under such coEc l.
tions. tending to injure the interest:
| of the other powers in China, mightDt
| regarded by them as authorizing {
| joint demand upon the single powel
for guarantees, which would be ve~y
difficult to meet.
For this reason it is hoped that tn
powers can be brought to act in har
nony in the matter of the evacuation
| of Pekin and it is entirety POSSIBLE
that if this plan is executed all Of tin
| American troops, save a small numSe
left to quart the legation at Pekn
can be withdrawn from China befoT'
winter sets in. 1t will not be neces
sary to delay the negotiations unit
the evacuation is completed"
Special Commissioner Rockhill ha!
left Shanghai for Pekin. A report b.
cable from him dated yesterday, indi
/ Gated that he had begun the discharg
i of his duties as "A special observer, q
the present Chinese disturbances.