The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-17
TECHNICALLY AT PEACE.
Oficial status of the Relations Be-
tween America and China.

tween America and China.
WASHINGTON. July 1G.-The decision of
the administration at the end of a most
eventful day Is tina the United States gov
ernmen: is still not at war with the gov
ernment OF China The big happenings at
Tien-Tsin. coming on top of the stories of
the last struggles at Picking, have not af-
fected the attitude of the administration
on this point; the United States and China
are technically at peace. But this state
ment should not be accepted as indicating
a purpose on the part Of the United States
government to withhold It's hand from the
administration OF swift and adequate pun
ishment upon the Chinese. without regard
TO station. who may be responsible for the
outrages Of the past few weeks. II means
simply that the government OF the United
States feels that il car best achieve that
purpose by regarding the status officially
as one of peace. To hold otherwise would
seriously cripple the government In. Its eff
forts to obtain satisfaction for the out
RACES the Americans In China have suf-
fered. We should find the ports Of China
now open to vs.. closed, and all sorts of i'm
pediments would be encountered which are
now missing. Therefore, according to the
administration view, a declaration OF war
would afford not even a technical gain.
while IL would actually be a heavy draw
back.
Chairman Cannon, of the House appro-
priations committee. is authority for the
statement tha money in plenty Is at the
disposal of the President to meet the pres
ent emergency, and that there is no neces-
sity for a called session of Congress on
that score.
The day was the most exciting Washing
ton has known since the battle of San
tiago. At the very beginning came Ad-
miral Remey's cablegram announcing the
defeat of the allied forces at Tien-Tsin.
and then came the vivid Associated Press
account of the fight. A special Cabinet
meeting was held on receipt of this news,
with such MEMBERS present as were in
town. Great reluctance was manifested
on the part of the participants to answer
questions as to the nature of the delibera-
lions.
PRESIDENT to RETURN.
The best indication of its nature was the
departure for the White House of Secre-
tary Hay Immediately after the meeting.
He sat down and had a long talk with
President Mckinley over the long-distance
telephone and 1t soon became known that
the President had decided that 1T would
be best for him to come back from Can
ton to the national capital.
The Cabinet officers talked over the pos
sibilities of reinforcing the troops in China.
There was no disposition shown to with
hold these troops. the only question was as
to the amount of additional force avail
able. That was a technical question, so
1t was left to the War Department Off
Gals TO decide. The only point laid down
was that the government would send for
ward all the troops that could be spared
at this time. One proposition discussed by
the Cabinet appeared 10 have a very prac-
tical aspect about II. Technical men had
made objection to the further conduct OF
the Chinese campaign with an international
force without some working understand
ing as to the duty of each power repre-
sented. 1t was suggested that an interna-
of the ca~pitals-LOndon, Berlin, Paris or
Westinghouse define the part TO be taken
by each power and the quota of troops TO
be furnished and arrange for the selection
of a of the allied
forces.
This suggestion did not meet with a ia