The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-15
our Chinese PoIic~

General European criticism of The Ad-
ministration course in China. and appar-
e:=t.y inspired observations in the leading
press CO the continent concerning tie
cit and scuttIs policy, is causes and Ct
fe2ts. have served to stir up the STAKE
Department, and TO exasperate Secretary
Hay He al least. Is entitled 20 symua-
thy in this connection. He was i'll at
SuEapee Lake. New Hampshire. and the
real dipiomatist Of the department, Fsr
Hill. First Assistant Secretary. was
away, TOO. when the Rus sian charge
d'AEaires effected his amusing lie
coup at the expense of Mr. Mckinley
amateur TsUng- -Yamen al interim
Mr.. Hay knows that it was the puerile
bIundeT in question that made al ths
trouble ana caused ali the humiIia Il u
this country following upon its reels
But, officially. he is responsible. he is
in no position to explain to the courts
Of Europe that it was Hot Hay. Tut
men Of straw who fell into the Afuscovisa
trap and induced the President 10 bresk
the concord at Pekin, and to sauo Ger
many by retreating from The Chinese
capital leaving only a legation quail, on
the eve Of Count yon WaIdersee'5 arr
val
So Secretary Hay, after being compelled
by the nature OF the Russo-Ameriean
agreement to back the -,ussian hand I'D 10
the present time, and hence to object to the
punitive programme OF England and Ger
many. now finds. it necessary to explain
that the position of the United States Gov
eminent is much misunderstood abroad:
that it does not object to the punishment
Of Chinese officials responsible for attacks
upon the legations and for The nameless
atrocities committed upon foreigners. in
Guiding women and children and that il
does not desire TO oppose a demand for
Indemnity propOTtioned to the ability Of
China 10 pay one
Tbs semi official explanation. having
been cabIed across the Atlantic, apparent
Iy IS not being received as eminently sat
isfactory: largely because 1t is consid-
cred as evading the real cause OF com
slaint- In short, the leading powers. Rus
STA and France excepted, are irritated be-
5ause. while scuttling out of China and
leaving our allies to look out for Ameri-
can interests, and even to protect our
minister and legation in the event of Sc
sious trouble, we have not, therefore,
abated our assumption of right to have
as much to say in prescribing terms of
settlement as any of the Governments
which at great cost have continued to
maintain their forces in the Empire.
European statesmen are pointedly asking
where American as well as general for
ailI interests in China would be, if all
Inc powers had adopted Mr.. McKinley's
CCt and seattle policy and lodged out and
away before any steps had been taken to
reach solution of the vexing Chinese
problem?
That is the sore point. England. Ger
many, Austria, and Italy do not care a sou
whether The United States likes the num-
Der o. Cinnamon selected for execution or
Inc amount of indemnity and damages
agreed upon What they do resent is the
diseou-teous action of this Government in
breaking the original concord by a pre-
cipitate announcement Of retreat, without
notice to all parties to the occupation; ae-
ton which might easily have led to an
open rupture, and came dangerously near
producing one.
Up to the time of the cut and scuttie.
America enjoyed respect, honor, and pres
Hge anoni, the powers of Europe. and was
freely and frankly congratulated upon her
debut as a world power. This enviable
position has been utterly lost through the
destructive operation of a single outbreak
Of amateur cabbage garden and postage
stamp diplomacy. After much VrIggling
and webbing. the Administration az length
appears 10 have arrived al that conclusion.
and is eating the humble pie it baked for
itself il the Affaire de Wonant Minister
Congo. has been instructed TO waive a
head or two IN the matter OF punishments,
and moi 10 mind the odd shiilings and pence
IN the indemnity figures. In other words.
he is to put the best face he can on the
matter. and, as far as possible conceal the
fact that any views the United states
s-At urxe in opposition 10 the general