Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-31
TROUBLE MAKERS
CHINA COULD AND WOULD PRO.
TECT FOREIGNERS.
POWERS Spelling FOR FIGHT
Will Not Allow Peaceful Settlement
Need Armies to Impress Each
Other.

New York, Dec. s1-A special to the
Herald from Washington says:
china is anxious that foreign occupa-
ton of her territory cease as soon as
possible, as 1t is causing delay in the
peaceful adjustment OF affairs. In view
of the prospect that each nation will
hereafter maintain a legation guard in
Pekin. China is anxious that it shall be
reduced to as small a number as the
powers can be induced to designate.
China declares that tho force constitute
ing the American guard is altogether too
large. 1t numbers 1,S0o men, but Chi
nese diplomats here point out that il
each nation maintains a guard of this
size, Pekin will be under the control of
IL force of IA, 400 foreign troops. There
are now in China about 100, 900 allied
troops. Officials of the administration
insist that il is absolutely necessary to
maintain in Pekin the force now there.
that the United States interests could
not be protected with a smaller number.
Gen. Chaffee is in control of a section OF
Pekin and a few days ago sent out an
expedition to a point south of the citr.
lAdjt. Gen. Corhin denied today. most
alphabetically. that this column was in
any sense punitive. There are to be no
executions nor is there to be any inter-
ference with Chinese officials; the duty Of
the column is to rescue some missions
lies ana return with them to Pekni.
Ill il the belief OF Chinese diplomats in
Washington hat had Minister Cunger
communicated to Prince Ching and ii
Hung Chang the danger in which the
American missionaries We're supposed 70
lie, the Chinese authorities would im!ne-
diately have taken measures for their
rescue ana protection from injury. II is
expected hat as a result OF the Amer
lean expedition, the American troops will
he COMPOUNDED with those of other pow
ers which have been guilty Of atrocities,
and the hatred felt for the Germans.
British ana others will extend to the
Americans.
China feels able at this junctu,e, it is
said. TO protect all foreigners and it
seems TO be the belief here that the rep
resentation of danger to American mis-
SionS are gotten up to prevent a solu-
ton of the Chinese question. Ii: view OF
Chinese preservation of order outside of
Pekin, and of her Willingness to protect
foreigners and the fact that the imperial
court. whose presence in Pekin is 50 de-
sirable, will not return to the capital I'M
til the foreign troops leave. We'll INFORM
ed puDllc men mere are advocating lle
immediate withdrawal Of Gen. Chaltee,S
to the Philippines, where regu-
lars are needed to replace the volunteers
who viii return. beginning next month,
10 San Francisco.
Adjt. Gen. corbin said last night that
the American troops in China are the 9th
regiment of infantry, one squadron OF
the 9th cavalry ana battery G of the 9th
artillery. Since Oct. $500 men have left
China and proceeded to the Philippines
There is no doubt that the administra-
ton is anxious to terminate the occupa
ton of China by foreign troops and it is
stated positively that as soon as it car
be done, Gen. Chaffee,s will b.
Withdrawn. the United States merely re
serving the wight to maintain a Legation
guard in pehin, the privilege to be takel
advantage of in case the American lie
cation should again be endangered. Al
the other powers are retaining in Pekl
and the province of Chill an exceeding
ly strong force, both to impress eac
other and repless China. The withdraw
al of all the American troops at thi
juncture would, administration official
fear, cause a loss of prestige by this gov
eminent and prevent Minister Congo
maintaining the commanding position i
now occupies.
As explained in official circles, the sit
uation requires that all American troI
available be stationed in the archipe
ago. There are less than GO. 900 effective
in the islands. Ma. Gen. MacArthl
thinks the situation demands that thel
should be at least this number for e.
tectiveness.