Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-08-29
IN WAITING ATTITUDE,
Absence of News From China Handi-
caps the Government.

Washington, Aug. 20.-The govern.
ment is in waiting attitude regarding
the Chinese situation. The lack of late
advices from Peking and the failure OF
the powers to show their hands as to
their future policy makes it necessary
for this government to await develop
ments. The administration considers il
of the greatest Importance that in the
negotiations for u settlement of the Chi.
nese difficulty all the powers should act
in unison and harmony, and its efforts
are being directed to that end.
The powers, however, seem slow tG
declare themselves. Several replies have
been received to the instructions sent tc
our ambassadors and ministers last week
asking them to sound the governments to
which they are accredited on two propo.
sitions-irst, the willingness of these
governments to accept. the sutficiency OF
Ii Hung Chang's credentials to treat
with the powers for settlement, and,
second, to ascertain if possible what the
future policy of each power is to be.
Powers Watching Each other.
Regarding the latter inquiry, the re-
plies thus far have developed nothing
The powers appear to be watching each
other without definite or fixed purpose
as yet of their own. With regard to the
first inquiry. Great Britain and Russia
are agreed that Earl Lis credentials are
sufficient. Germany, however, takes a
firm stand against the sufliciency of his
credentials and is the only power ms yet
which has returned fiat footed dis.
sension
The attitude of the United States is
that his credentials appear authentic.
They We're promulgated by what appear.
ed to be a genuine imperial edict, duly
transmitted through the accredited Chi.
nese minister Mr.. WI, and the United
States is willing to accept them at Their
face value, at least for the present.
The president and the cabinet are as
much in the dark regarding the date
when the dispatches of Minister Congel
and General Chattee left Peking as is the
general public. They can find no ex-
PLANTATION for the fact that they have
come through without Peking dates eX-
cept that they evidently were sent by
courier to Taku and that cablegrams are
relayed IL times after leaving the lat
ter point. They may have been sent
from Taku without Picking dates or they
may have lost the date en- route. Inter
nal evidence was found in late dispatches
received from them that tended to dem
onstrate that some person or persons had
been purposely delaying the messages
coming from Peking and Tien-tsin to
Washington.
Messages Tempered with.
1t is also suspected that our messages
may have been injuriously tampered
with. The cabinet came to the conclu-
sion that if any Chinese persons have
t.,t = 1 II
ference must have occurred on the wires
between Chefu and Shanghai, and it was
determined to reopen direct communica-
tion by means of n war vessel. Either
the New Orleans or the Princeton, now
at Shanghai, will be sent at once to
Chefu, where the military cable system
begins free from Chinese interference
The administration has nothing tending
to confirm the alarmist rumors regarding
the situation at Pekng. Admiral Remcy
reports nothing disquieting, and it is as
sumed that if there was any prospect of
the allies being attacked and hemmed
in he would be in position to hear of it
and would promptly report 1t to Wash,
ingtOn.
Report From Chaffee.
Three messages from General Chaffce
have been received, and while they cast
no direct light on the military situation
they were infcrentially important. The
generals statement that he needs no
siege battery. taken in connection with
the diversion of the First cavalry, which
was bound for Taku, to Manila, seems to
make clear that there is no intention to
enter into prolonged campaign in China
such as would involve the use of heavy
artillery or of Tc-cnfOrcements in the