The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-06

The chinese PrOblem-
In spite Of the fact that European de-
spatches and State Department utterances
treat the Chinese situation with a consid-
cradle degree of reserve, il cannot be con-
eealed that the conditions at Pekin are
not only serious but alarming. AS far as
We are able to learn the united forces of
the Powers gathered at the capital for the
protection OF the legations do not amount
to more than a good-sized regiment, in
Guiding two or possibly three squadrons Of
Cossacks which the Russian Minister
seems to have introduced within a few
days. These Museovite troops may not
now be in the city. as they have been try
ing to rescue a party of refugees from
Paoting-Fu who had fallen into the hands
of the rebels.
The chances are that the fanatical Box
ers, who are swarming toward Pekin ID
the number Of over one hundred thousand,
Will attack the city, if they have not al
ready done so. and there is grave reason
for fearing that all foreigners. including
the representatives OF the civilized pow
ers. their families. and suites, may be
massacred before help can reach them. 1t
is possible, however, that by this time the
eleven thousand Russians on shipboard at
Taku may have marched up the Pei-HO,
the railway from Tientsin having probably
been totally destroyed.
In these circumstances it is quite natural
that the governments of the United States
and Europe should be greatly perturbed.
Tho IN 81 EsI-
the initiative and to send an army of
paciication into the country. whether the
other nations do or not, is creating great
anxiety even in France. The situation is
one that demands instant action. and yet
IL would be difficult for the rival Powers
TO agree upon common programme. even
il they had weeks instead of hours for
discussi6nl plain danger then appears
in the probability that a general invasion
of China may be precipitated without con-
cert of action, or with no more than a
vague and temporary arrangement between
the commanders OF the various forces.
Russia holds the master haDd for the mo-
ment. having perhaps an huAdred thousand
soldiers available on short notice. That
would perhaps mean the occupation of
Pekin by TIE Car. and it would be very
apt to become permanent.
As The Times stated yesterday. the
Empress Dowager has thrown off all pre-
tence of a desire to check the anti-foreign
rebellion, and is reported as having or
dered her government to face all Europe
rather than oppose the Boxers.
should they do the expected thing and as
sauIt the imperial capital. whatever else
may happen the doom Of China as sepa-
rate and independent state will be set
tied. But it is a regrettable corollary
Of that proposition that one cannot con-
ceive how the settlement could result 9TH
erwise than in q terrible International
war. probably involving Russia and France,
against Great Britain. Germany and Japan.
Ultimately there would be an end to
hcstilities. and the partition OF China on
some basis would follow The prospect is
not without menace to the interests
of the United States. The extinction
Of the Chinese Empire. and its
pareeIling among the belligerents would
shut this country out from any share in
the commercial future OF the Chinese
mainland in Asia. Treaty ports would dis
appear. and become Russian. British. Ger
man, or what not They would be no longer
open to us, as under existing treaties. In
order to share in thespoils we would have TO
take part in the military preliminaries
The questions before our Government in
connection with this sinister complication
viii not be found easy to handle II is
not pleasant to contemplate American
commercial exclusion from China but
something of that sort seems not improba-
Bile, unless this country shall become a
party 20 the impending struggle.