Evening star., 1900-07-23
The President Asked to Use His Good
Offices
FOEITRICATEI TEIMPERIALG GOVERNMENT
Reply Will Not Follow the Lines
Of the French Response.
PEKIN RELIEF MOVE MENT

President Mckinley has received direct
appeal from the Chinese imperial govern
ment to use his good offices to extricate
that government from the difficult and
dangerous position, in which 1t has been
placed a result of the Boxer uprising and
the ensuing hostile attitude of the great
powers Although the exact text of the ap-
peal made by the Emperor of China to
France. as outlined in the cable dispatches
of Saturday, has not been made known
here, it is believed that the address to the
President is similar in terms to that COM
munication. In our case the communica-
ton was made through Minister WI to the
State Department.
VIII Not Follow France.
The French government answered at once,
but that answer will not serve us. The
United States government is conscientiously
proceeding upon an entirely different line of
policy in the treatment of the case. Unfor-
tunately, the State Department finds itself
alone in this. but. nevertheless, 1t is con-
WINGED that its plan is the best. and it has
behind it the consoling assurance that at
present all Of the European governments
have tacitly admitted that error was
made in the beginning in not following the
common sense advice of the United States
naval commander at Taku. The point of
difference between the State Department
and the European governments Is that the
latter are proceeding upon the belief that
all of the foreign ministers and mission
aries and guards at Pekin have been killed,
ard insist upon dealing with the Chinese
government upon that basis. thereby as
suming a hostile attitude that tends to de-
stroy the last chance of availing of what
ever friendly sentiment may yet exist
among the powerful Chinese viceroys and
the imperial government itself.
Thus the French reply. as indicated in the
four conditions laid down by NJ. Delcasse.
fmDOSSible task the immortal
government in its present straits and tends
to drive 1t at once to make terms with the
Boxers and Prince Tuan's party.
On the other hand, our government while
not guaranteeing the truth of the advices
from the Chinese government as to the
safety of the foreign ministers is willing
to accept the statements temporarily. in
the meantime remitting none of it's efforts
to get access to Mr.. Conger through the use
of military force if need be.
Advantages of the American Policy.
By following out this policy the State
Department argues that it retains two
chances instead of one. 1t may reach Mr.
Conger with troops, and 1t also may secure
his deliverance through the friendly offices
of some of the powerful Chinese officials
which the powers are not likely to obtain
for their own people by following out their
present policy 1t may be stated also that
the United States government has not, and
does not, intend to relinquish any part of
Its claim for compensation and reparation
in the ultimate settlement Its position In
that respect, it holds, will not be affected
unfavorably by prosecuting it's efforts to
make use of the friendly sentiments of the
Chinese officials.
A particularly deplorable effect of the
reasoning of the European governments on
this point. in the estimation of this gov
ernment, Is the abandonment of the idea
that there is particular need for haste and
for taking even desperate chances in the
EFFORT to get the international relief column
through to Pekin.
Possible to Start August 1.
1t is true thas the latest advices from
nally estimated by the foreign commanders
that the expedition could not be started be-
fore August 10. 1t is now regarded by them
as possible to make a beginning about the
list of August.
But the military experts here who have
been clearly scanning all the reports from
lien Isin that appear to be worthy of
credit. feel that even now the way is open
to Pekin. and that the march should be-
gin with the force at present on the Pei-ho
leaving the powers to bring up reinforce
mtnts TO reopen the base should the frat
expedition be cut of
According to the latest official reports
the country around Tien Tsin is clear
OF hostile Chinese. The flower of the Chi
nese army in that section has been defeat ed
at llen Isin. and these army experts cal
culate that its power is so broken that that
particular army never can be reorsanized
in season to offer formidable resistance
SO they argue that the time is ripe for a
stroke or bold generalshp, such for in
stance, as Frenchs ride to Kimberley