The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-05
CHAFFEE'S INQUIRY
WIRES TO KNOW ABOUT WITH
DRAWING FROM rEKIN.
SAYS FIGHTING is ALL OVER.
ANSWER TO HIs QUERY FOUND N
oUR REPLY TO RUSSIA.

Neccnt DeNeiopmenfM-to ondtttons
IN China are SIN Dl~arderIy. and
Foreign Life H. Uasafc-Russia's
uysterious Attitude Is Watched
with Great Interest.
Washington Sept. A very interesting
dispatch was received to-day AZ the War
Department from Gen. Chauee. Il de-
scrlbes the military situation as eminent
" satisfactory. and would have been OF
great value but for the omission common
10 all of the other Official dispatches from
China namely. the date line.
However, taking into consideration that
cablegram was received by the state
Department to-day dated Ave days ago
from Mr. Conger. the conclusion was
reached that Gen. Chanee's dispatch nlfo
was sent from Pekln about Aug - or %.
Gen. Chaffee asks a very important ques-
ton as II the withdrawal OF the American
troops. The answer 10 that question. Il
Is said. might have been found Ia the
State DeapTtments answer to the Rus
sian evacuation proposition. But that
answer. or rather a synopsis OF a. was nor
oabled TO Gen. chafec until the s0th
ultimo. and Il Is assumed that. allowing
for the same time In transmitlal as was
consumed by Gen. Chanec's dispatch re-
eeived to-day. the synopsis has just reach
ed him.
When the American answer 10 the Rus
sian proposal was made public IA was
stated here that Gen. chaffee had been
instructed some time before by telegraph.
just what course 10 pursue In the matter
Of retiring from PekIn In the event OF
the emergency that afterward arose. This
being 80. to-day's application for inatruc-
sions ought not be regarded as an indi-
cation that he had not received the orig
inal instructions when he sent his mes
sage.
No order ca Leave Pekin.
II IL stated that no oraer has been sent
20 Gen. Chaffee 10 leave Pekln as the re-
suit OF any recent development In fact
It would seem that the War Department
is not able 10 instruct him more specific
ally on this point until The decision Of
the Powers relative 90 general evacuation
is known. II was stated a. the War
Department chat our position Is unchang-
ed. u Russia withdraws her troops then
Gen. Chanee viii do the same. But we
will not act unless there l. general
agreement or Russia actually does with
draw her troops.
Meanwhile Il Is gathered that conditions
in China are dlsordered and foreign life
and properly are still unsafe.
The dispatch received from Minister
Conger was gratifying 30 officials In that
Il contained the date of Pekn, Aug. %.
as an integral part OF the message. and
this part in cipher. The text OF the
conger dispatch was not made public. hnt
IL was authoritatively stated that II aid
not change the situation. and was devot-
ed somewhat to expressions Of opinion.
II was authoritatlvely stated In this con-
nection that Minister Conger win remain
nt his post untn further orders. Up to
this time he has expressed no wish to be
relieved.
RussIa's Mysterious Motives.
In diplomatic quarters Russla's motives
continue TO be a fruitful theme. The the
Qry advanced by NJ. Blowitx. In the Lon
don Times. that II was an offset to France
for Russia's supposed nomination OF Count
Naidersee, Il regarded as purely fan
eiful. A much simpler and more reason
able explanation Is advanced by one Of
the diplomatic officials. who hns taken
active part In the negotiations lie says
that Russia recognizes the obvious fac.
that Il Is TO her advantage to have
weak neighbor. instead OF hav.
ing partition Of China. which
would range number OF the
Powers alongside Of Russia For this rea-
son. It is said Russia's chief aim Is 10
maintain the present territorial condl-
tions.
An official communication received here
through diplomatic channels makes the
rather surprising statement that ii Hung
Chang Is AZ present using all his efforts
70 have one Or more OF the Powers dis
sent from Russia's proposition believing
that a rupture OF the allies Sill be of
greater advantage 10 China than any
agreement even on the favorable basis
put forward by Russia.
sun waiting on the Powers.
II Il stated that up 70 the present. less
than a majority Of tho Powers interested
in the Chinese question have responded
10 the Russian proposal 80 far as our
government Is advised. and our officials
here agree with the general tenor Of the
European dispatches this morning IN the
conclusion that final action on the part
OF all the Powers may not be had for
several days at least Everything now de-
pends on the action OF Russia, the atti-
tude Of the other Powers bcing negative,
ard n she does not hasten 20 carry out
her announced purpose 10 withdraw the
troops. the other governments probably
will be content. cherishing the hope that
in the meantime some kind OF Chinese
government can be re-estsbl.shed In Pc
kin. with which the Powers may neeoti-
ate for a anal settlement.
ii Hung chaugs attempt 20 secure Inn
psr.aI warrant fer the institution OF peace
negotiations. through himself and the Chi
nese n3tables referred 20 in the Euro
pean dispatches. II regarded here as
step in the right direction. while on the
other hand some disqulet has been caused
by the report that the internatlonals In
pekin have been arresting some Of the
members OF tho Tsung II Yamen, who