The Washington weekly post., 1900-08-28

ton would notify It's Ct0,uTu7ftC re1Te@Fn-
tAtiyeS abroad that they might govern
Themselves accordingly Withta three h9cTE
after the official declaration Df Congress
that the United States Was ~ war with
the kingdom of Spain. the Spanish gov
ernment had on the wires an identical
note IN al governments 20 which IN had
accredited representatives, notifying iron
II the existence Of a state Of war between
Spain and ;he United states.
state OF siege in Manehuria.
The understanding among Washington
officials OF Russia's action Is that the
empire has declared the three proy!aC IS
on its southeastern frontier In a state of
siege. This Is altogether different from q
declaration Of war. Ii corresponds to a
declaration OF martial law By Great Brit
ain and TO a suspension of the right Of
habeas corpus BY the United states Ii
Is a supercession OF civil BY military su-
thoriiy. II has no effect upon such treat
les as may be in force between the two
countries: whereas. declaration Of war
or declaration that a state of war ex-
lists would tear Up all treaties.
II Is pointed out further that Russia
has two objects in her present operations
In China-the rescue an2 protection Of the
foreign legauoners and The protection Of
her MANAGED frontier. The avOwed OBJ
ject Of the other powers is simply the
reScUc and protection Of the legatiOne-s
and otner foreign subjects
In carrying out her second OBJECT. Rus
sia has seiZtd New Chwang. This was
done 10 obtain a Dace OF operations from
which the frontier could easily be reach
sd. precisely as Taku was seized as a
base Of operations by the allies IL their
operations against Pekin.
Would Refase to Withdraw.
Whether, in the evert of a declaration
OF war by one or more IF the powers
against China an invita- ton would be
extended to the United States to retire
from China. as intin ated in the dispatch
from ChefoO. is open to doubt; and il
is decidedly probIematical, il is said
whether the invitation would be accept
ed, even If 1t were rendered. The United
States forces are I'm China protecting
personal and property rights of citizens
Of, this country and, in addition, the trea-
~ rights of the United States. Under the
mOst-faVOred nation clause this country
has certain specific rights in China, and
il is said on authority to be the purpose
Of the United States TO protect and pre-
serve those rights. The attitude this gov
ernment would assume in the event of a
declaration Of war by another power
would depend. it can be stated. upor the
immediate circumstances surrounding the
declaration. and the situation in China
at he time the declaration was made.
In any event il can be said to be no part
Of the purpose of the United States to
sacrifice any of its guaranteed rights or
privileges in the Chinese Empire.
Replies fron the Powers.
II was stated last night that several
Struggling replies" had been received
by the United States to the notes ad-
dressed to our Ambassadors and Minis
ters abroad on the Chinese question for
their guidance in obtaining the views Of
the governments to which they are ac-
credited on the settlement of the Chinese
problem. Officials decline absolutely to
indicate the nature of the representations
made by our representatives to the for
eign governments, or TO say whether the
replies thereto are satisfactory or not.
Acting Secretary of State Adee was at
the White House for a short time last
night in conference with the President
He announced later that there were 10
dispatches from our representatives in
China TO make public.