The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-06-24

in regard to China. According to us
ually well informed correspondents at
Rome, Vienna, Yokohama. Paris and
Berlin. the powers are now celebrating
as TO the advisability Of imprisoning
the dowager empress Of China, and
are busy arranging the details Of the
long looked for partition Of the celes-
tial empire. These forecasts bear many
evidences OF authoritative inspiration.
Yet the Associated Press is in a posi-
tion to say they have not fragment
Of basis. Upon the authority Of the
British government it can be declared
that no communications have passed
between the powers regarding any ac-
ton in China, excepting the relief and
release of the diplomats shut up in Pc
kin. When that is accomplished, to
use the words Of a foreign official, lit
viii be time enough for the nations TO
deliberate on their further course Of
action" This official added: mo
plan for the eventual settlement of
Chinese problems has so far been pre-
sented TO Great Britain. nor even sug-
gested to her"
While Lord Salisbury is too cautious
to commit himself to prophesy regard
ing the outcome of one OF the most re-
markable crises in the worlds history.
the Associated Press learns that he is
not inclined to believe this Boxer out
break viii Immediately bring up that
most vital Of all points. that is, the
paramount necessity for European SOW
ereignty over the entire Chinese en-
pire. To further quote the foreign Office !
Official:
In discussing the utterances Of .
statesmen and the writing of cores
pondents. one must remember they are /
10 be gauged by STANDARD Of compare
tive ignorance rather than by COM
parative knowledge. No European real |
ly knows anything about China. Some /
know less than others. but that is about
all it amounts to. We are not parley- I
ing with the other powers. and the
other powers are not parleying with US,
for the simple reason that We are all /
ignorant of the conditions we are fac
ing. Unanimously we are trusting to
the naval officers on the spot. When /
they are in a position to report to us 4,
the extent Of the uprising they may /
be able to tell US whether we are fac
ing a rebellion chiefly confined to the
north, or whether we are opposed to the
whole Chinese people and government
Then it win be feasible. but not until
then. for the powers to get together in
an attempt to agree on some method Of
settling forever the Chinese problem.
The first thing is 20 release our re-
spective diplomats. That, it seems,
has not yet bsen accomplished, and
while that remains the chief objective,
and the naval commanders of all ma
tions maintain the present harmony
Great Britain is not anxious. nor do
the other powers seem anxious, to bring
UP the debatable questions Of an even
tual settlement; and you may be as
sured that ali the reports Of an interna-
tional agreement on a line of action,
to the restoration to safety
Of the diplomats at Pekin, are prema-
ture and unfounded."
The general trend Of the best in
formed opinion in London seems to be
that the opposing interests Of Japan
and Russia may in themselves precip-
tate crisis, even before the Boxer
outbreak is stamped out. though neith-
ar Of them are believed to be willing
to go to the extremity Of resort to