The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-05
NO CHANGE IN
CHINESE PROBLEM
Powers Slow in Sending
Their Replies.
ACTION OF RUSSIA
Unless She Withdraws Troops Others
Will Also Remain.
MESSAGE FROM Mr.. coNGER.
MESSAGE FROM Mr.. c0NGER.
1t Contained Date Of August 3oth and
While it Was Not Made Public,
Said Situation Was not Chang
Conditions are Still Dis
ordered and Life and
Property Unsafe.
(By Associated Press

(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, Sept. "A very inter-
esting dispatch was received to-day at the
War Department from General Chaffee.
1t described the military situation as emf
nently satisfactory, and would have been
of greater value but for the omission COM
mon 10 all OF the other official dispatches
from China, namely, the date line. How
ever taking into consideration the fact
that cablegram was received by the
State Department to-day, dated five days
ago, from Mr.. Conger, the conclusion was
reached that General Chaffee's dispatch
also was sent from Pekin about August
10Th or Goth.
General Chaffee asks very important
question as TO the withdrawal OF the
American troops The answer to that
question, it is said, might have been found
in the State Departments answer TO the
Russian evacuation proposition. But that
answer. or rather a synopsis OF 1t, was
not cabled to Generas Chaffee until the
Goth ultimo. and it is assumed that. allow
ing for the same tinae in transmittai as
was consumed by General Chaffee,s dis
patch received to-day, the synopsis mas
Just reached HIM
When the American answer to the Rus-
sian proposal was made public it was
stated here that General Chaffee had been
instructed some time before, by telegraph
iflst what course to pursue in the matter
of retiring from Pekin, in the event OF
the emergency that afterward arose. Ih1s
being so, to-day's application for instruc-=
TONS might be regarded as an indication
that he had not received the original IN
structions when he sent his message.
NO ORDER TO LEAVE.
II is stated that no order has been sent
to General Chaffee to leave Pek.n' as tie
result of any recent development. II, IN ,l iact,
| II would seem that the sWars41epaft.heMtfse M
;s,krat o.instructshim more spacificai!E
an tiis point until the reply Of the Powers
relative 10 general evacuation is known. Il
;s stated at the War Department that our
position was unchanged. Ii Russ.a @"itn, viii
draws her troops, then General Cha1lee wiz
do 1he same, but we will not act unless
there is a general agreement, OF huSs.St
actually does withdraw her tfoops,
Meanwhile it is gathered that conditions
!, China are still disordered and iofelsh
life and property are still unsafe.
-yhe dispatch received from Minister CON
eer ws,s gratifying to officials in that 1t
contained the date of Pellin, August aoth,
as an integral part of the message ana
in cvpher The text OF the Con3er als-
patch was not made pubic, but II Was
Stated that it did not change the sltul-
80, aud was devoted somewhat to eX-
preston of opinion.
It was authoritatively stated IN TINS coii-
nection that Minister Conser will remain
at his post until further orders. Up to unls
time he has expressed no wish to be re-
lieved.
RUssTAS MOTIVES.
Tn dinloratic quarters RusSia's motive
continues to be a fruitful theme The
theory advanced by NJ Blowitz in the Lon
don Times that ii was an offset to France
for Fussia's supposed nomination OF Count
waldersee is regarded purely fanc!iul.
much simpler and more reasonable eN-
nlanation is advanced by one OF the dlplo-
matte officials VINO has taken an active part
in the negotiations. He says that Russia
recognizes the obvious fact that 1t IS To
her advantage to have a<weak nelghbor.
instead of having partition, which would
range a number of the Powers alongside
Russia. For this reason Russia's chief am
is to maintain the r,-sscnt territorial condi-
tons.
An official communication received here
through diploratic channels makes the
rather surprising statement that u Hung
Chang is at present using al his efforts
to have one or more Of the Powers dissent
from Russa.s proposition, believing that
guoture Of the allies will be of greater
advantage to China than any agreement
even on the favorable basis put forward
by Russia.
REPLIES ARE SLOW COMING.
Tt is stated that up to the present. less
than a majority of the Powers interested
in China have responded to the Russian
proposal so far as our Government is ad-
vised. and our officials here agree with
the general tenor of the European dis
patches 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 depends on the
action of Russia, the attitude OF the other
nations being negative, and if she does not
hastenst to carry out her announced pur-
pose to 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-establshed in Pelzin with which the
Powers may negotiate for a final settle
ment.
Lii Hung Chang's attempt to secure inn
perial warrant for the institution OF
peace negotiations through himself and
The Chi1aesa notable referred to in the
European dispatches, is regarded here as
a step in the right direction, while on the
other hand some disquiet has been caused
by the report that the internatonais ~
Pekin have been arresting some OIL me
members of the Tsung Ii Iamen, VINO
were seeking to open negotiations ana rs
establish the Government There Is no
disposition to condone the offeases OF any any
of these Chinese officials who ma may have nave
participated in the outrages IN in Fehill, ,t pu.
it is questioned whether the present IS an
opportune time to adnini ster punishment. 14Il