Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-03
.'HAsTeN :"
Continued from page ~

! this morning, from AuIlITdi. N'h'P'i
confirming the worst stories WHICH
have emanated from China relative u
the conditions at Pekin, and a feeling
of disuuiet was noticeable among ad
ministration officials and diplomats
The German embassy showed particu.
lar anxiety for information respecting
| the sad end of Baron Won Kettler ant
i'm the course Of the afternoon. Secre-
tary Hermann of the embassy. paid a
] special visit to the State department
to inquire NJ Thiebaut, the charge
of the French embassy, also called. in
quest of information. it was said. :.
The visit revived rumors that an eff
| fort is afoot to reach an international
agreement respecting the conduct OF
the forces of the powers in China. II
was said, this afternoon. at the state
| department that the only news was
/ that there seemed to be an unanimous
agreement on the part of the powers
| To Welcome with the utmost cordial
| ty Japan's offer to furnish reinforce
ments for the forces now operating
along the Pei Ho river in the effort to
reach Pekin. as Japan alone of the
powers, is prepared to throw into
China whatever number of troops may
be needed The news To that effect
had come to the state department
from all directions and particularly
from England, Russia and France. As
far rs the state department Is con-
cerned it had previously accorded
Japan free hand in the matter of
the number of troops to be employed
in china upon voluntary and
n NJ IN.
the employment of these forces.
A gathering in Sec. Hays office. late
in the afternoon. Of Sec. Root and See.
Hitchcock. taken in connection with
the fact that Sec. Long had been in
conference. earlier in the day. with
secretary of state led u the circula-
ton of rumors that important dcvel-
opments were To be expected connected
with the strcngi hening Of the United
States forces row in China These
rumors. however. were speedily set at
rest by the statement from one az tho
participants that the conference had
nothing Il do with Chimes, affairs. but
related to some Indian troubles in the
Northwest.
Secretary Root did not hesitate t.
enter specific denial Of som- ~ tn"
sensational stories which ar. persist
emily circulated every day regardless
uf facts. II" said that he had not or
dered any tro ps to China. beyond the
9th Infantry from Manila. now on the
way To Taku. and possibly The 9Th
Cavalry. about 10 start from san
Francisco to Nagasaki. The destina- |
ton of the latter would depend upon |
developments. He said he had not or |
dered the ith and 18th Regiments Of |
infantry To china. as has been report |
ed in some quarters. nor had he made !
the slightest preparation for their dis |
patch.
Respecting the withdrawal of troops |
from Cuba, the secretary said that he
did not himself know which OF the |
regiments would be first brought home. |
Gen. Miles and Gen. Wood are trying |
to settle that question. there being |
some difference as to whether the |
Withdrawals should be based strictly |
upon the order in which the regiments |
had gone To Cuba or upon other con-
such as the conditions OF
their service and the need a the home
for cavalry or infantry organizations.
Secretary Long contradcted the re-
port that the New Orleans was to be
sent to Taku or elsewhere in China.
ard added that he did not even intend
to send out another ship to make W
the deficiency caused by the disaster
to the Oregon.
At the state department it was said
that all that had been done toward
adding to the strength of the force
which Gen. Chaffee will command had
been confined to the adoption of meas
ures looking to the touching at some
cable port on the Asiatic
side of the Pacific. of such of the regu-
lar army regiments as are dispatched
to the Philippines To relieve the vol
unteer troops there in order that they
might be diverted 10 China if neces-
Sary. However. not a single addition
al organization has been ordered there
nor has there been effort made 70 |
hasten the movement of troops out t.
Manila for the purpose of relieving tn
volunteers.
After As hours consideration the
cabinet officers here have decided nos
to ratify the agreement of nine arti-
cles providing for the neutralizatio
of Shanghai and the southern China |
treaty ports submitted by Minister
" u. iltit N'it Spiiit tulIlSS Ill lH' |
agreement which the government felt
that ii could not accept. Such for in
stance. was the absolution proposed tn
be extended to the Chinese govern
ment in advance for any outrages that
might occur in the treaty ports The
has. however, no objection |
to the principle embodied in the ar
ranscment and has therefore told Con-
sui General Goodnow by cable that he
might pledge the United States gov
eminent to commit no act of hostility |
so long as the viceroy of the province
is able to keep peace and will protect
This determination has
been made known to the other powers
There is every disposition on the
part of the government here to en-
courage such agreements. for they will
not only relieve the government of the
necessity of maintaining a large force
at the southern treaty ports but will
tend to strengthen greatly whatever
opposition there may be in China to
the anti-fOreign element headed BY
Prince Tuan. Our government is con-
WINGED that this leader does not repre-
sent the Chinese government, but that l.
ne is merely a self-consttuted head
of lawless and riotous combination.