Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-30
| DIPLOMATIC PHASE
I0f Chinese Problem Discussed
at Special Cabinet Meeting,
Which Was the Longest Of the
Present Administration.
Various Aspirations Of Powers Will Be
Brought To Focus.

| Washington. Aug. pa special meet
ing of the cabinet lasting all day and
| broken only by a short recess for lunch
con, marked the intense interest the adj
| miniStratiOn feels in the Chinese prob
! lem. II was the longest cabinet session
| of the present administration. The
| diplomatic and not the military phase
| of the situation in China was under
| consideration and this accounted for
the presence Of Acting Secretary Adee,
a very unusual happening at a cabinet
| meeting
| Mr.. Adee Is the medium through
which the foreign governments com
municate and he has been in receipt of
a good many statements recently. Last
evening, ne and the French charge, Mr..
IThlebaut, compared the French and
American copies of the credentials Of Lii
Hung Chang. Today, he had long talks
with Minister Wa and the German
Charge daffaires and the substance OF
these conversations he laid before the
cabinet 1t is understood that hte cab
met, today, completed preparation of a
plan for clearing away much of the I'M
certainty that now exists as to the flu
ture in China and outlined it's views in
writing.
The fact that the military situation
is admitted to be OF secondary import
ance confirms the view. though no cab
met officer would vouchsafe informa-
ton on this point, that what is sought
IS an agreement among the powers for
terminating the indefinite status OF at
fairs in China. 1t is believed that the
point has been reached where 1t is
proper that there should be a clear ex-
preston Of purpose on the part of the
principal powers in order that the
United States government may know
how far it may go consistently in the
execution of the common program. Most
of the objects held in view by the Pres
ident when he made answer to the
Chinese governments appeal and began
the campaign upon Pekin, have been
achieved. Two others remain to be Sc
cured. namely. the safeguarding of
American interests for the future and
some proper guarantee for indemnifi-
cation for the expenses of recent opera
lions and losses of American citizens.
Some plan by which these objects
can be attained by the United States in
common with similar objects by the
others engaged in China is thought
feasible. Incidental to this main pur-
pose several phases of the problem are
attracting attention. This the suffi-
cheney of Ii Hung Changes credentials
as peace envoy, or rather of the abil-
ity of the Emperor of China to accede
any one thus. is a matter Of interesting
consideration. The United States not
only must satisfy itself of Lis COM
potency but it must convey solid assur-
ance on that point to convince some of
the other powers, the purposes Of which
perhaps would not be best served by a
speedy termination of hostilities in
China.
1t was the general understanding that
the outcome of today's cabinet meet
ing would be the adoption of a policy
by the administration that would tend
to simplify these issues and at least
to bring to a focus the varying aspira-
tions of the powers. If this cannot be
done, then the question to be deter
CONTINUED on page 81