The evening times., 1900-09-15
1 Chnnre of Nicu.

As there has been reason to expect ever
snce the return OF Or. Hill 10 the State
Department. the Administration has been
quietly but firmly worked out of the
cavity into which amateur diplomacy
had plunged it, at the verbal invita-
tfon OF that most amiable and astute diplo-
matist NJ de Woliant. the Russian Charge
d'Auaires in washington. Russia has help
ed in the matter by deciding not 10 leave
Pekin, since England, Germany, Austria
and italy Will not consent To- and so the
United States IS released from its pledga
to march out of the Chinese capital at the
heels of the Cars soldiers.
In this connection We are greatly efi-
ned TO learn from official sources that the
promise was not a binding one It is true
that it was made in very distiD-t terms;
but we are told that it could have been
easily evaded. What We agreed TO was
that, if Russia withdrew, then we would
But it was stipulated that the manner and
time Of going should tc decided by Cen
eraI ChaGee after conference with the
International commanders. Thus it will
be observed that. if Mr., McKinIey's mind
should be changed for him al any time
preceding the seuttIe, it would be quite
practicable TO convey hint to Chaffee
and then he could conclude that it would
take a couple OF years for his troops TO
get ready 10 move.
In any event our forces in Pekin are
not to be ordered away at present, and
that seems a sensible decision. The aban-
donment OF the capital would advantage
nobody but Russia, and no one else is
particularly exercised 10 play catspaw fer
that power, which is amply able to take
care of It's own interests But. the Pekin
matter having been settled, there is a
really serious diplomatic question which
the powers will have TO settle out of hand.
It is that of the appointment of General
Yung Lu as the third of China peace en-
yoys. 1t would be difficult to imagine a
worse display of Oriental impudence than
the naming of the ruffian who directed the
attempts to overcome the legations and
TO massacre their inmates. as n plenipo-
tentiary to treat with the powers for
peace. Quite as fully as Prince Tuan,
this Tung Lu deserves hanging. 1t is not
conceivable that any of the states at war
with China. Russia and this country per-
haps excepted, Will consent to recognize
or hold any communication with such a
person. Yet he cannot be ignored without
involving delay for his credentials are
undoubtedly as good as those of Ii or
Ching. aud those officials probably would
not dare to proceed without his co-opera-
tion. Perhaps the matter is Unimportant,
since there is nothing to gain by discuss
ing peace with the Chinese until the pow
ers have agreed upon basis ii not de-
tailed bill of indemnity and damages.
Pending such conference and agree
ment there will be time enough for the
proper appointment of a Chinese Peace
Commission, and, in the insolence of the
Tung Lu incident, the Empress Dowagel
has furnished fresh reason for a refusal
Of the powers TO treat with anyone rep
resenting her and Prince Tuan, as this
murderous Manchu does. In the hesita-
tion of Germany and Great Britain to rec
ognize Ii Hung Chang, perhaps there may
be discerGed grave doubt as to whether
there is any legal authority vested in the
Empress Dowager and Prince Tuan
to negotiate at all as a responsible
Chinese Government. 1t would not sur
prise us to see a movement in the direc-
tion of excluding these anti-foreign per,
sonages who have usurped the powers ant
functions of the Emperor, from any con
sideration whatever Both have forfeited
their lives thousand times over. and arr
intoleTable nuisanees which ought to be