Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-09-06
A WAR NOT WANTED.
Uni ed States Waiting for Replies
TO Notes Sent 10 the Powers.
SUGGEST WITHDRAWAL FROM PEElS.
The Acceptability Of II Hung Chang - .
Peace Envoy sun Unsettled - The
Conditions Sad to BE Improv.
Ing IN China

y States government, having acted upon
the Russian proposition as to the
withdrawal of troops from Pekin, Is
; now quietly waiting for responses to
the notes which have been sent to
our various representatives for pre-.
sentation to the powers. Judging
by the rate Of progress made-in the
preceding negotiations several days
and perhaps a. week may pass before
all of these REPLIES are received Ac-
cording to their formal expressions,
all of the powers are agreed upon this
one point-they don't desire to enter
upon a formal war upon China. The
United States government is trying to
bring about this result For the mo-
ment it finds itself side by side with
Russia, whose earnestness cannot be
questioned at this time. The object
now in view is to bring about stu-
alton in China that will admit of the
beginning Of negotiations looking to
the re-establishment of order and the
cessation of hostilities, with the in
surance OF protection to foreign life
and property. After that the nego-
iiations may touch upon questions
that remain to be settled. 1t Is with
this object that Russia has suggest
ed the withdrawal from Pekin in
order that the Chinese government
may resume the reins of power, for
the Chinese people, being guided by
eNternais, are not apt to yield fealty
to . government not in possession Of
its own capital. The United States
government has been earnestly cham
pionlng the cause of Ii Hung Chang
from n precisely similar motive, name
ly a desire to speedily rehabilitate
the Chinese government in order that
1t may carry out its express desire
to settle the difficulties which have
arisen This has been the object of
the negotiations of the last few days
and the Russian note and the United
States response were but parts of the
general plan, In responding to the
Russian note MS it did, the United
States government awaited itself of
the opportunity CT directly inviting
the remaining powers to express their
desires in the matter of u settlement,
or rather to indicate how, in their
judgment, peace negotiations could be
thus instituted. This note is calcu-
lated to secure q full disclosure Of
the intentions of the powers, if the
inquiry is met by them in the frank
spirit in which it was conceived by the
United States government. The diff
Guilty apprehended now in reaching a
settlement lies in the intentional de-
lay and procrastination on the part
Of any power which is concealing its
true purpose and does not desire to
avoid formal war.
The state department Is already
embarrassed by delays experienced in
securing responses to its note chal-
longing the production of objections
to Ii Hung Chang. It appears that
much confusion exists at Taku as to
what actually has been decided upon
respecting the treatment of Ii Hung
Chang should he arrive at that place
en- route to Pekin. The reports of
the naval commanders to their home
governments rather increased the
confusion in an international sense.
Admiral Remey found it difficult to
sift out the facts at Taku. Now the
state department finds the replies SC
far received from Europe vague and
unsatisfactory from the reason that
the various governments appear to
have different understandings as to
the exact conditions at Taku It
could not be learned from whom the
replies were received, and which
were missing, but It can be stated
that at present the question as to the
acceptability of Earl Ii as an envoy
and his freedom from interference re-
main unsettled The advance Of the
Russian proposition may reduce the
Importance Of the other questions,
for with the return Of the Chinese
government to Pekin the smaller
matters of the personalities of the
ENJOYS and the sufliciency of creden.
tials could be speedily adjusted. Al
together the opinion among the MEM
bers of the administration here is
that the Russian move has made d.
rectly for an earlier settlement of the
Chinese difficulties than seemed pos
sibly a few days ago.
Secretary, Root, in speaking yes.
terday of the statement in the Con.
ger dispatch saying that Prince Ching
was coming to Pekin, said that it was
has been known as friendly to the
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