The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-09-09
PREPARE TOQUITPEKN
American Troops Are Ordered
to PIake Ready.
NEXT STEP IN ABEYANCE
COMPROMISE SEEMS TO RE
GREATEST PROBABILITY

Washington, Sept. s.-Orders have
been cabled General Chaffee to pre-
pare his forces for withdrawal from
Pekin- Further than that, the war de-
Dartment has taken steps to have at
Taku sufficient number of United
States transports to remove the troops
20 the Philippines as soon as they reach
the port.
The orders are preparatory and do
not necessarily irdicate that our gov
eminent has decided finally upon an
immediate withdrawal from China IT
Is simply placing itself in a position TO
carry out tie pledge conferred in the
reply to Russia.
THE result Of these considerations
Is that unless there is such a general
expression by the powers in favor of
continued occupation as to modify the
views SHOWN by the government of
Russia and lead 10 a general agree
ment FOR continued occupation. we shall
give instructions TO the American
FORCES IN emma to withdraw our troops
rom fehih after due conference with
the other commanders as to the time
and manner of withdrawal
Up 70 the present moment the Amer
iCdn government has not changed its
poilcy IN TINS matter of withdrawing
me trooDS. 1t has given the subject
much consideration since the original
note was written, bur at all times there
mas been kent steadily in mind the
pToDrleIy or removing the American
troops from China as soon as this could
De consistently done II is infipated
that the prospects for securing these
objects through complete Harmonious
action by the powers is Frightening
May be Compromise.
IL IS felt that this IS a time for COM
Prohilse propositions, as between the
Russian and German designs in China
ana such propositions now form the
substance OF nearly all the diDIomati tic
exchanges which are in daily progress
ne continuance of quiet in Pekin
tending 10 reassure the Chinese Off
Gals. is believed to be rapidly hasten
ing negotiations for q final settlement
There is the best reason to believe
that, were the Chinese government
once assured of the personal afefv of
its members; were it relieved of a fear
or a ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF China and the
menace of a large foreign force in the
capitol. the imperial court including
the emperor and empress dewager
would lose no time in RETURNING 70
PeSin and opening negotiations for a
settlement.
Hence the suggestion has been
thrown out that the allied forces i'm
Pekin be reduced TO a number sniff
clent to insure the immediate safety of |
the legations, while the remaining
FORCES retire beyond the walled city
perhaps to Tien Tsin, and if the pro-
gress OF the negotiations seem to war |
rant 1t, PERHAPS be withdrawn 49, |
gether from Chinese soil. There are
only two obstacles to the execution Of /
this plan. One is the difficulty of |
framing suitable guarantees for the |
continuance TO a satisfactory conclusion |
of the negotiations for the final set
tlement. The other is the unconnDro- /
missing attitude Of one Of the powers.
1t IS now believed that the difficulty
as TO guarantees can be satisfactorily
adjusted.
Obstacle May be Overcome.
The obstacle may be overcome by
threatened isolation Of the refractory
power. for Il is believed that no one
would care to pursue a war upon China
when the other powers had deliberate
~ expressed their judgment that fur
Their hostilities were unwarranted. Be
side, hostEties under such conditions. |
tending to iniure the interests of the
other powers in China might be re-
ga~ded by them as authorizing joint
demand upon the single power for
guarantees, which would be very diff
hcult to meet.
Special Commissioner RockhilI has
left Shanghai for Pekin. A report by
cable from him, dated yesterday, indi-
Gated that he had begun the discharge
OF his duties as a special observer of
the present Chinese disturbances