The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-08-25
Must Know What the Powers Pro-
pose to Do With the
Chinese Empire.
Chaffee Recommends Early Withdrawal-Ameri-
ca Opposes Partition, While Russia and
Germany May Favor 1t.

japanese Generals and many civilians were
present at the interment.
The American troops are encamped in the
grounds Of the Temple of Heaven. The Chi
nese are supposed to have fed northward.
CHATFEE"S RECOMMENDATION.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Washington, Aug. 24.-Mator General
Chaffee has recommended that the United
States troops now in China be withdrawn
so soon as all the Americans IN Pel1in have
reached places Of safety. His cable dis
patch advising this and accommodating evil
dences Of lack of harmony among the Pow
ers were the main subjects of discussion at
to-day's Cabinet meeting. The President
and all the members Of the administration
are anxious to get the troops out of China
at the earliest possible date. hut 1t can be
said on authority that there will be no i'm
mediate withdrawal of American forces I'M
less there is a change in conditions.
There is a disposition IN administration
circles to believe that General Chaftee's rec
ommendation was based on military condi-
tions alone. and that he did not take po-
l!tical conditions into account when MAX
ing It, though there is reason to believe
that his dispatch was sent after consulta-
tion with Minister ConCer.
Withdrawal OF American troops will be
considered permissible upon restoration of
order and the obtaining of those guarantees
for the protection of American life and
property contemplated by Secretary Hays
note of July 3.
The withdrawal Of the troops Will he re-
qured II. through the declaration of war
against China by one or more of the Pow
ers, condition should arise which would.
temporarily, at least. interfere with the
accomplishment Of the objects which the
United States had IN view in cooperating
with other nations.
There is grave apprehension among mem
bers of the administration that such 4 con-
dition of war may arise. The statement in
the special cable dispatch from Pekn this
, morning that the Russian General asserted
that his Government had declared war or
China has not yet been officially confirmed
by either Minister Conger or General Chat
fee, nor from st. Petersburg, but 1t agrees
SO well with information from various
sources to the intentions of Russia as tc
| be regarded as representing the true situa.
| ton.
| This consideration. taken in connection
| with Germanys preparations to send a large
! army to China, when the need for more
| troops there has passed. gives ground FOL
| fear that the Emperor may cherish designs
of occupying territory and remaining ther,
| permanently on the plea that order has no
| been restored. and that the presence of Ger
| man troops is necessary. 1t is believed b,
| the administration that there is an under
| standing between Germany and Russia.
Should either of these Powers, or an!
| other. declare war against China or begin
| military operations not within the scope o
| such as may be necessary 10 attain the OBJ
| jects for which the United States Govern
| ment Is striving, the American troops viii
| be withdrawn from Pekin at once after as
| suring the safety of all Americans in tha
| city, and pending any war that may fol
| low. this Government will contine it's atten
ton solely to affording protection througl
its naval vessels or by landing troops i
| necessary to Americans in any part O
China. where they may be endangered.
Whether Great Britain and Japan, tn
| two Powers which stand by this country il
| opposition to the partition of the Empire
| would so any further and use force to pre-
serve the integrity of China, is not know
here. but it is feared that serious troubl
| will result from the operations of German,
and Russia.