The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-25
A world crisis Approaching.

The President and his ADVISERS are Per
fectly correct III viewing the present in
ternationaI situation in China and in Eu-
rope with anxiety, and in endeavoring TO
improve it by the application Of friendly
diplomacy. 1t is eminently proper for the
United States TO suggest TO the other al
lied powers the advisability OF an immedi-
ate conference, with view OF defining the
character and extent Of future movements
in China, and to arrive at some harmonious
Conclusion in regard TO a basis OF peace
cegotfations. Since Germany refuses 10
recognize the authority OF Ii Hung Chang
TO act as plenipotentiary for the Imperial
Chinese Government. and the Empress
Dcwager and the Emperor are not to be
found, Mr.. Mckinley is perhaps wise in in
viting the British. European, and japanese
governments - agree with Us upon some
neutral authority in China with which ne
gCdstiOns may be initiated.
While entirely in sympathy with the
objects the Government has in view, in
thus attempting to secure a suspension OF
hostnities. and international action which
should bring the war to a close, and pre-
serve the integrity of the Chinese Empire
"a matter in which this country is Vi
tally interested-we are unable to feel
sanguine concerning the probable results
Of the movement. Germany, Russia, and
France have been and are making the
most extensive war preparations. Whether
these are wholly designed against China,
or may incidentally have reference TO
eventualities elsewhere is a question In
the case Of France, the British press and
ri
In short, England is suspicious that French
military activity Just now is directed to-
ward her interests, and possibly her home
territory. The relations between the two
Governments are badly strained. The
French public charges Great Britain with
boycotung the Exposition, and making it
the dismal failure it has become. Move
ments Of the French navy have been met
by doubling the active channel feet, and
il is not too much to say that a war scare
prevails throughout the United Kingdom.
How much cause there may be for this
feeling of panic, We do not know; but it
exists and suggests one reason why ii may
be difficult, if not impracticable, to in
duce the two mutually suspicious and jeal-
Gus powers to act in unison il China.
where their Interests and ambitious arc
Numerically opposed to each other
The position taken by the Mckinley
Administration is that the purpose of the
il vasfon of ChiDa-that Of resSuing the
ministers and other foreigners in Pekin-
las been accomplished. and that nothing
now remains TO be done but to treat with
some responsible Chinese authority for
damages and indemnity In this connec-
ton. our State Department is understood
10 hold that such limitation TO the scope
of hostile operations has been agreed upon
by the powers Including Russia If,
therefore Russia should now recognize a
state of war and proceed to further pun
ish China the act would be regarded as
breach of faith. and would be vigorously
protested against The Washington cor
respondent OF the New York Tribune"
whose opportunities for learning the views
OF the Administration are excellent, in
treating of this point, thus telegraphs to
his journal:
'In this relation It i proper to say on the hest
authority, that il Russia has declared war and
new proposes 70 begin campaign from the van
tage ground won by international efforts. she VIII
he met the threshold of il with a vigorous
protest from the United SU2tcs, but il is Ger
lievod, in official circles. either that Russia has
declared that her purposes are iuiuieal
to the policy SIT forth in the note Of July 3, TO
which she gave her foTm, assent.
There are two clemens of weakness in
the above statement which Will at once
appear TO anybody who has followed the
short diplomatic history of the Cainese
war with attention. In he first place. It
IS true that the policy defined by the
United States in the note to the powers OF
July 3. was assented to by all of them.
hut net without qualifications and this was
especially true of Russia. That Govern
ment. while agreeing TO joint action in the
matter of the Pekin relief expedition, ex-
pressIy reserved the right to act indie
pendently where Russian political interests
might be involved, or n case of attack by
China. Not long after, Russia declared a
state of war to exist in the Amur country
and It is entirely competent for her to say
that-ignorfng antecedent facts and deveI-
ppments-the final assault of the Chinese
Army upon the legations, on August - and
II, constituted an attack upon Russia.
within the terms of the reservation.
Again, Russia may assert with entire
regularity, that the United States is
estopped from complaining of the formers
intention to continue war, the fact OF
which was established in the attempt of
the Chinese Government to massacre the
American Minister and other Americans in
Pekin, which was full and complete dec
laration of war, recognized by the United
States in its invasion OF China, and in its
participation in the battles Of Lang Fang.
Tientsin, Yangtsun, Tung Chow, aud Pc
kin When it comes to the issue, ffctioas
and subterfuges will not serve against the
clear rules laid down by the international
law authorities. nor against the stern log
ic of the facts. On these bases we are
compelled TO think that. If Russia with or
without the corporation Of Germany and
France. should decide TO continue hostiIi-
ties until the Imperial Chinese Govern,
ment shall discover itself, and approach
the other beiiigerent or belligerents with
an offer of submission and redress, the
case of Russia would be automatically