The Dickinson press., 1900-09-15
SPEEDY DECISION
Question cf Withdrawing Our
Troops From Pekingls Be.
fore Mckinley.
Differences Among Officials
and the President Must
Settle Them.
HAVE NOTIFIED cHAFFEE
The General Directed to Hold
Himself in Readiness to
Move Out.
Ii Hung Chang to Leave Shang-
hal for Tien TSin Next
Friday.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13.-The question
Of withdrawing the American troops
at once from Peking is now before the
president and speedy decision is ex.
pected and required. There are differ
ences among officials in Peking on the
question and the issue is for the pres.
ident to decide.
General Chaffee was made acquainted
with the attitude of the government
and was directed to hold himself in
readiness to1withdraw his troops Un-
doubtedly he has conferred with the
other commanders as to the time and
manner of withdrawal according to the
terms of the note. The sending of
further supplies to him has been
stopped and he now awaits but the
signal from Washington to begin his
movement. It is for the president to
give that signal.
The considerations before him in
favor of immediate withdrawal, are,
first, the fact that he is already com.
mitted in a manner to such course by
the language of the reply to Russia's
note. Second, it is represented that
China is on the verge Of terrible fam
Inc and the
Retention of the Troops in Peking,
preventing as they do the return of the
Chinese government, and the supply Of
provisions at the capital places the re-
sponsibility for what threatens to be q
frightful calamity upon the powers
who sanctioned the occupation.
| On the other hand strong representa-.
tions have been made to the president
in opposition to withdrawal in advance
of the procurement of absolutely suffi-
cient guarantees for the protection of
American interests in China and for
the safety of the native Christians.
This last addition is one most difficult
to meet, but, being insisted upon by
the missionary element, is being given
most careful consideration.
In anticipation of such state of af-
fairs it is highly desirable that some
responsible representative of the Chi
nese government be recognized in order
that we may secure sufficient guaran-
tee upon which to base the withdrawal
of our troops. Ii Hung Chang and
Prince Chung are the only lights in the
East, so far as our government can sec,
and it is possible that the present prob.
lem may be solved by decision to
| Deal With Them Immediately
and to accept their pledge as sufficient
for our purposes. Therefore the deci-
sion announced during the day to
facilitate Ii Hung Changes passage
from Shanghai to Peking may be re-
garded as significant Later it was an
nounced that Consul General Gooduow
had reported that Ii would leave
Shanghai next Friday for Tien Tsin.
His means Of transportation are not
known, but he may have United
States vessel if such a thing is abso.
lutely necessary to his reaching Tien
Tsin. Possibly the negotiations may be
conducted there, but the opinion in Off
cial circles seem to be the last act in the
negotiations. namely, the signatures of
the treaties which must bind China for
the future must take place at the Chi.
nese capital. 1t is not known that any
of the powers is prepared to object to
Ii Hung Chang's visit. Meanwhile the
state department is doing its best to
force the Chinese government, through
Ii Hung Chang, to restore peace in the
provinces and cease outrages upon
American citizens which have been con-
tinued up the present day.