The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-30

eIgners and refugees In Picking. and there
seems little reason 10 doubt that they are
safe, whether IN the capital or on the way
TO the coast.
The British admiralty IS behind time
but has contrived 20 report that Tientsin
was shelied for FIVE days with little loss.
and that Admiral Seymour seized an ar
senal during his retreat and was hard
pressed when reinforeements were sent
10 him. To these meager explanations
was added In parliament an additional de-
graphed TO the British consul general az
Shanghai that the foreign legations in
Peking continue 10 receive every protec-
ton from the imperial government.
Details are stiIi lacking. but IL is evident
that Admiral Seymour's relief column was
cut OF from supplies and was unable TO
either reach Picking or to return to Tien-
tsin when the Russians, Americans and
other allied forces reinforced It Monday.
II had not accomplished any useful pnr-
pose, and had been under fire for fort
night. and on short rations.
The situation has cleared sufficiently
10 admit a perspective view 81 the British
and American policy. What the British
policy In China IS. nobody outside the
foreign office processes to understand.
Lord Salisbury has not disclosed any OBJ
tecfive points beyond the protection OF the
British legation and commercial interests.
He has not started out well, for the re-
lief force commanded by Seymour has re-
turned 10 Tientsfn after being thwarted
and barled In the attempt TO reach Pek-
foreign contingents has rescued IL Eng
land has taken subordinate part in the
bardment OF the Taku forts. and the
European forces have rescued The, the relief LEI
the British admiral Lord Salisbury viii
now fall back. without doubt, upon the
European concert, and the initiative Will
be taken by Russia
The American government, unlike the
other powers seems to know it's own
mind. and this IL a great advantage; II
provided a small contingent Tor sey-
der fire with the Russians before Tientsin
was relieved, but each was sent into CHINA
under definite instructions, and there was
no engagement to DO anything more than
cooperate with other forces in the pro-
lection Of life and the property of the
foreigners.
The American activity will end when
its legation is safe and the lives and
property OF Americans In China are pro-
tected. There will be no Intervention In
Chinese political affairs, nor any partici-
patton In the partition of the empire. The
European concert will be left 10 settle the
Question relating 20 the deposition of the
empress. and safeguards against the dis
solution OF the empire.
The Japanese may be said TO have saved
the situation, and also TO have clouded
1t with uncertainty They have saved 1t
by dispatching large force OF soldiers
to China. and by preparing to mobilize
2o.oo0 troops. They have imperiled 1t by
military occupation which Is likely TO
be permanent or TO last until Russia Is
ready TO agree to scheme of particpa-
ton by which Japan will profit largely.
There are many rumors of massacres Of
Christian converts and foreign merchants,
but these simply prove that there is a
state OF childish panic In the seaboard
towns, and that every wild story of out
rage Is believed by the itching ears. The
dispatches received by mercantile houses
here from Shanghai are reassuring The
gravity OF the situation has evidently been
exaggerated in the last fortnight.