Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-06-23
Is 1T PEACE Or WARP
Editorial Review Of Relations Between
China and the United States.
New York Sun, Wednesday.

Editorial Review of Relations Between
China and the United States.
New York Sun, Wednesday.
The news from the seat of the insur-
rection in northeastern China contin-
ues to be vague, conflicting and un.
official. AS to what has taken place
in Pekin during the last eight days we
know nothing except by rumor. There
is no doubt that the relief force under
the British Admiral Seymour, which
started to protect the legations in the
Chinese capital, has had to turn back
to Tien. .Tsin but whether the retreat
was owing to lack of food and am:
munition or to the resistance offered
by superior military force is as yet
unknown. 1t is undisputed that the
Taku forts, early on Sunday, June II,
fred on certain foreign warships, and
were subsequently, taken, but, as yet
we know not with certainty from
which side the first provocation came,
or whether an American vessel was
among the warships fired upon. Under
the circumstances it is impossible to
say what the precise status of China is
in the eye of international law with re-
gard to the foreign powers that took
part in the attack upon the forts, or
with reference to the United States in
particular. One can only suggest by
pothetical views based on assumptions
which, to morrow, may turn out to be
wholly or partially unfounded. -,
Let US, fol the sake of argument, &C.
cept Professionally as correct the re.
port sent from Shanghai to the Lon
don Times. According to this cor
respondent, on Saturday, June l6,
the commanders Of certain foreign
warships off the mouth of the Peiho
river held council. In view of the
large bodies of Chinese troops assem-
bled at the Taku forts. and of the fact
that torpedoes had been laid In the
river and that all communications with
Pekin and even Tien-Tsin were in
terrupted, the council decided to send
an ultimatum calling for the removal
of the toops, and announcing that
if this demand were not complied with
before an early hour of the following
day the united feet would destroy the
forts. Shortly after midnight the forts
opened fire. The result of the action
was that two of the forts were blown
up and the rest were carried by as
sault.
Now, if this report be correct, the
proyocation came from the Chinese
commander of the Taku forts. The
mem bers of foreign legations in Pekin
were known to be in danger. The
right of the powers, whose representa-
tives they are, to rescue them was IN
disputable. Such rescue would be diff
ficult, if not impossible, were the sail
ors and marines of the foreign warships
and the sailors on board of transports
collected in the Gulf of Pechili to be
prevented from ascending the Peiho
river.
The commanders of the warships
had right to demand a free passage
for relieving force. Instead OF grant
ing the demand the commander OF the
Taku forts opened fire. Evidently,
it is on his shoulders that the respon-
sibility for the collision rests. Does
it follow that the Pekin government
has committed an act of war against
the foreign powers, the ships of which
were fred upon? The deduction can
only be averted by reputation of
the Chinese commanders act and by
an offer of ample reparation for the
damage inflicted. Ifit can be shown
that the Chinese commander did but
obey an order of the Empress Dowager
it will then be undeniable that state
of war exists between China and at