New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-23
POWERS RSLLKELY TO DISAGREE
A BREAK IN THE CONCERT WOULD NOT
SURPRISE THE DIPLOMATS.
Copyright: 1900: BY The New-York Trtbune,I
[BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l

[COpyr1ght: BY The Nev-Yorl Tr1bune,I
IBy CABLE TO TRIBUNE.I
London, Sept %. q. m.-The English press
has not yet had opportunity for commenting
upon the reported determination of President
Mckinley to order the withdrawal Of American
troops from China It has refrained from dis
cussing American questions and has assumed
neutral attitude toward the political parties in
the Presidential contest. It is not likely to give
full expression to the disappointment which Will
be felt in England over the withdrawal Of the
American troops One thing has been clear in
the nebulous policy Of the Foreign Office here,
that is, the determination Of Lord Salisbury to
keep British troops in China until settlement
Of some kind is reached. On this account he would
have preferred to have rhe American troops re-
main indefinitely and join in such expeditions as
General Gaselee has reported.
The inference drawn from the Presidents
ton will be that he disapproves the German
punitive proposals as fTnpracticable; that he
does not lend moral support to Lord Salisbury
policy. whatever it may be; that he declines to
be drawn into any European ENHANCEMENT, and
that he prefers TO negotiate directly with the
Chinese Peace Commissioners. independently of
the concert. President AIcKinley's course will
not be popular in England
It IS evident that Count Won Waldersee, If he
attempts TO carry on LNe pUDlLlFe pOlCy 70 4IS
natural and logical conclusion. will have to con-
duct more formidable military operations than
the bombardment of the Pei-Tang forts details
Of which are still coming in. He will have to
lead the international forces inland until the
Empress is overtaken and captured for she was
responsible for the orders for attacking the En-
bassies and slaughtering the foreigners. There
are optinists in the English press who affect to
believe that this will not be difficult, since the
mardarfns themselves will surrender her for
zsuBisaEaeat when they arr eocyi2csd that the
partition Of China cannot be averted otherwise.
Those who have lived in China do not share this
view. They assert that the ruling Manchu race
will stand by her to the end. and that per-
sistence in the demand for the surrender of the
Empress Prince Tuan and other guilty accom-
plices will involve the establishment of the
Court at Si-Nan or elsewhere. Indeed. there are
already signs in Berlin of a intention TO modify
the punitive proposals to exclude the EN-
press from the black list Of guilty leaders.
Lord Salisbury is reported to have suggested
some changes and limitations in methods while
agreeing in principle with the German proposal.
The English press, following The Times and
DR.. Morrison, adheres strongly to a policy Of ex-
eEnplary and personal punishment Of the guilty.
But the atmosphere in diplomatic circles is
electric with suspicion that the European con-
cert will not be maintained, and that Russia
viii be the first to break away and to occupy
Manchuria permanently. leaving Germany free
to hold Shan-Tung. Candid English journals
already forecast some scheme Of partial partition
of this kind, and assert that the British Gov
ernrnent will not interfere with the ambitions
Of those Powers for the control Of Northern
China, but will merely watch both closely. If
these forecasts are fulfilled the wisdom Of the
American Government in retaining liberty OF
action and withdrawing all its forces except
those required for the protection OF its Minister
may be fully vindicated. L NJ r