Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-09-05
UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA.

UNITED STATES ANU kuSSA.
Negotiations of the past few days in
dicate that the United States and Rus
sia are getting very close together on
the Chinese question. This condition OF
affairs comes in the nature Of a sur
prise; but all the same it appears to
be a very logical development.
Previous to last fall, Great Britain
Germany, Russia, France and the other
European powers, were committed TO-
or at least were pursuing, a policy OF
territorial acquisition in China. II
looked as if it would not be a great
while before the Chinese empire would
be parcelled out among these powers
and that the United States would be
debarred except for such treaties as II
might be able to make with Great
Britain, Germany and France, etc
Having acquired the Philippines and
foreseeing this situation, the United
States set out to shape circumstances
along a different line and soon SUCCEED
ed in getting the other powers to agree
to an arrangement whereby all ports
of China should remain open to all the
powers.
| So matters stood until the breaking
ont of the present disturbance and the
assembling of foreign troops on Chi
nese soil. The first object of the troops
was to relieve the legations from the
desperate position in which they were
held; but after this object was accom-
plished there arose new problems as te
what would happen next.
| During the past few weeks all lndl'
cations have been pointing to the in
tention Of Great Britain and Germany
to take advantage Of existing circum-
stances to add to their territorial hold
ings. This presumed intention has ap-
parently jeopardized the interests OF
the United States and furnished Rus
sia with the opportunity to make
very shrewd move.
With Pekin occupied by foreign
troops and the Chinese government
on the run, there is but little opportu-
nifty for a satisfactory adjustment OF
the situation. This arrangement suits
those powers that have territorial de-
signs admirably. 1t Is pretty clear
that until there is some central au'
thority to negotiate with there can DC
no binding negotiations, and the longer
the central authority is prevented
from the discharge Of it's functions, the
greater the danger Of anarchy thai
will give good excuse for partition.
Last week the Russian government
advised the government of the Uniteo
States that 1t had directed the Russian
minister to retire from Pekin, and thai
he would speedily be followed by the
Russian troops; that the minister
would remain away until the govern
ment of China should regain the reins
of power, when he would return ano
resume negotiations, etc. The United
States government replied in effect as
follows:
Unless there is such a general ex'
preston by the powers in favor of con-
tinued occupation as to modify the
views expressed by the government Of
Russia, and lead to a general agree
ment for continued occupation, we
shall give instructions to the com
mander of the American forces in Chi
ma to withdraw our troops from Pc
kim"
| Under this arrangement Russia
leaves Pekin whether any of the othel
powers go with her or not, while th'
United States government has not full!
committed itself. Still, however, thu
United States government has clearl!
indicated it's preference in the matter
and the probability is that most Of tht
other governments will go with it ant
Russia.
If all the powers speedily Withdraw
from Pekin there is hope Of an earl!
settlement of the whole trouble on
basis eminently satisfactory to th'
United States. Otherwise there arr
going to be some serious complication
the end of which cannot be satisfacto
rily predicted.