Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-28
IN The DARK.
OiIy News from China Through The Japanese
Legation.

W 3ShlnGtOI. Aug. 1T able inter-
ruptiuns continue to keep the govern
ment here i'll the dark rs to what is
happening in China. and notWithstand-
ing the most urgent appeals to the ca
bic officials ana t. our own officers
there ED word has gotten through from
China since Saturday.
The embassies ana legations hero,
with the exception Of the japanese Ir-
cation, are faring no better than thn
state department in the matter of tho
rcccip Of news.
Minister Wu and Baron Spcck Won
Sternberg. the latter now acting rs
charge If the German embassy. both
called at the state department. this
morning. in search of information.
Mr.. wa stated that he had not had
one word from ii Hung Chang. AMI
that he was entirely dependent upon
the state department and the neWspa-
pers for Information. He was perturh-
"a by the reiteration iii thr press MI
the story that Russia Germany ami
japan had finally decided upon 4 for
mai declaration NJ war against china.
ana was much relieved To ascertain
that the state department Was abs,-
rUmur
The condition of affairs at Annoy j.
for the moment attracting the great
est share of attention at the depart
mrntThe United States consul ar that
point has become very much alarmed
at the rioting. ut the incendiary fires
and lastly At tn" landing of a cOnsii-
cradle force Of Japanese troops ana
marines.
TIE officers ID not care to say
whether ur not he has Joined in any
protest against the japanese action.
II ~ has done s however, the gov
eminent Will act upon il only after
mature consideration. taxing TIL"
ground that in the absence Of any al
vice showing a selfish purpose on the
part Of the Japanese it must be- as
sumci that the landing was made in
the common cause # all Europeans
and Americans. 1t is not doubted th9-
any American commander would have
landed troops at Annoy if rioting APP
peared to endangrr foreign properties
and lives and no other foreign war
ships We're available. Steps will be
taken NJ once To learn the facts in
tn" case ana one NJ the naval COM
mand"rs will be called upon to make
inquiry ana report at once
The United States government has
not invited any government To partici-
pate in conference with the purpoS,
of arranging the future of China. Nor
has it received any such invitation from
any other government Negotiations
that have been in progress for some
time involved. last week. the dispatch
Of an identical note. or rather of prac-
ticaliy Identical instructions to the
United States diplomatic representa-
tives in Europe and in Japan for their
guidance in replying to inquiries that
We're flowing in upon them daily as to
the purposes of the United States gov
eminent.
The state department itself has also
received many such inquiries from rep
resentatiVeS Of the powers involved iii
the Chinese trouble. IL is believed that
| these We're generally informal. but
nevertheless they called for statements
Of policy. 1t is regarded as expedient
that the replies should be divergent afd
to guard against discrepancy, by direc-
ton of the President. a formal instruc-
ton was drawn w. That this did not
!
ed States to withdraw from China at 4.
specific date. was made evident by the
continuance Of inquiries from the lega-
tons and embassies here for Informal
/ ton on this point. There is a very man
ifest desire on the part of European
governments to g"t some expression
/ from the United States government AZ
to its purpose. before committing them
| selves
! 1t is believed that our answers have
been framed with the special purpose
of avoiding cOmmittal Of the govern
ment as to its policy beyond the points
| specifically laid down in the Presidents
response to Emperor Kwang Sus first
( appeal and the answer tn Ii Hung
/ Changes appeal for mediation How
ever this may be. the state department
does not regard it as eXpedient to make
public the last phase of the npgotia-
4 tons. 50 tits not possible to know from
this side whether or not they have
touched upon propositions to divide
China into spheres for military occu-
patton TO provide for d temporary form
Of government for Pekin OF to endeay-