Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-07
WILL NOT ACT ALONE
Great Britain Wants Concert of Ac-
tion in China.
VERY BUSY In SOUTH AFRICA
European Courts All Greatly Ex-
cited Over the Situation.
COMMENTS OF THE PRESS

COMMENTS OF The PRESS
LONDON, June 7-TeIcgraphing from
Tfen TSin, under date of June 6. a corre-
spcndent says: Il left Tien Tsn this MORN
ing en- route for Pekin, accompanied by
General Mich. supposed to be one of the
best of the Chinese generals, with sixty
troops We proceeded to Lofa, a distance
of thirty-one miles. We found the plate
layers cabins in flames and telegraph poles
cut. and men engaged in destroying others
in villages near the railway. where flags
were seen bearing the inscription, XIII all
foreigners
Il saw smoke, evidently from burning
houses in the distance. but General Mich
refused 10 proceed further being in mortal
fear of the Boxers. though the foreigners
endeavored to persuade him to disentrain
his troops, who are firmly convinced that it
is useless to fight the Boxers. as other
Chinese say they have seen Boxers hit with
bullets rise and run away.
There seems to be little prospect of n
resumption of traffic to Pekin, unless the
foreign powers assume control of the rail-
way until the Chinese government proves
itself capable of managing communication
with its capital
England Will Not Act Alone.
States expects Great Britain to take indie
pendent or initiative action in China, as
might be gathered from special cable dis
patches quoting Representative Hit. it is
depending On a contingency which appears
very remote indeed. From every CONT
mental capital today comes evidence of
how keenly the powers appreciate the far
eastern crisis, yet the British foreign Of
flee retains the apathetic attitude which
for years has distinguished Its Chinese
policy. Though the Boxers outbreak
has doubled in virulence and international
complications have since cropped up. the
Marquis of Salisbury appears to have
taken no new steps to meet the emergency.
representative of the Associated Press
was informed officially today that the
Eritish minister at Pekin. Sir Claude NJ.
Macdonald. and his assistants are still in
complete charge of the situation and are
relied upon TO meet any circumstances
which may arise, armed as they are with
authority to call upon the Britsh-China
squadron for more troops if they are need
ed. The government understands that the
diplomatic and naval authorities on the
spot are cooperating harmoniouSly, and SO
long as this state of affairs continues Lord
Salisbury sees no immediate necessity for
taking steps over the British minister's
head. In short, the feeling prevails In Brit
ish government circles that the Boxers
outbreak is not likely to result more seri-
ously than many former upriSings in that
quarter of the globe.
EncIand's Difficulties Multiply.
Moreover. Lord Salisbury, perhaps more
than any man in public life in England.
realizes how great are the difficulties with
which Great Britain is hedged in at the
present moment. Replying to private let
ter the other day. WHICH suggested that
Great Britain should show her teeth more
Lord Salisbury. it is learned by the Asso-
ciated Press, replied that unfortunately
Englard's teeth We're now in South Africa"
In spite of the fact that the Associated
Press is officially informed that Great Brit
ain has neither sounded other powers with
the view of securing cooperation in a new
and vigorous Chinese policy or been
sounded as to such action by any power
there are many rumors that such steps are
under consideration. A member of u for
eisn embassy in London tells the Asso-
ciated Press that il is certain the British
foreign office is contemplating sending in
strucuonS TO all Its ministers to secure the
support Of other governments. especially
that of the United States in plan of ac-
ton
Though Russia might be invited to join
this concert would have for its Interior
object the Illustration of any designs Rus
sia may harbor for making capital out of
the present troubled state of affairs in
China This statement the British foreign
office categorically and emphatically de-
MES.
May BE Prompted by Policy.
But even If the denial is prompted by mo-
tivos of policy. it be said without re-
her own initiative beyond the mere pro-
lection of her endangered subjects. No
amount Of public pressure could induce
Lord Salisbury TO enter into further COM
plications until the South African war is
finished. But the tone of the British press
is in acute contrast of the official attitude.
The afternoon newspapers today are unani-
nous in urging a combination of the powers
with a greater object than mere tenn
porary suppression of the Boxers.
The st. James Gazette declares there is
nothing for II but to what can be done
by magnified version of that European
concert worked in Crete-by the
diplomatic steam roller. more complicated,
less handy and more jarring than the old
one, because il includes wheels which are
Japanese and others which American"
The Westminster Gazette maintains that
Great Britain's choice is either to wait for
a collision between Russia and Japan, in
the meanwhile confining her efforts to
police work and landing parties. to
ganize joint European Intervention in which
all the parties will bind themselves 10 keep
the peace and respect the independence OF
Pekin.
Later details from Tien Tsin say that
during the engagement at Tung Hu be-
tween the Boxers and Catholic Chris
tians Tuesday the Christians captured nine
cannon.