The age-herald., 1900-12-04

perial forces were imbued with it's 'doc- trines and that the immediate counsellors of the Empress Dowager were in full sym pathy with the anti-foreign movement.
 Caused Profound Solcitude.
 The increasing gravity of the conditions in China and the immfnence of peril to our own diversified interests in the Empire as well as to those of other treaty govern ments were soon appreciated by this govern ment causing it's profound solicitude. The United States from the earliest of foreign intercourse with China, had followed a pol icy of peace, emitting no accession to testify good will to further the extension of law ful trade, to respect the sovereignty Of It's government and to insure by all legi- timate and kindly and earnest means, the fullest measure of protection for the lives and property of our law abiding citizens and for the exercise of their benefcent callings among the Chinese people.
 Mindful of this it was felt to be appro- priate that our purposes should be pro- nounced in favor of such course would hasten ufated action of the powers at Pe- kin to promote the administrative reforms so greatly needed for strengthening the imperial government and maintaining the integrity of China in which we believed the whole Western world to be alike con- cerned. To these ends l caused to be ad- dressed to the several powers occupying territory and maintaining spheres of in- fluence in China, the circular proposal of fluence in China the circular proposal of 1899 inviting from them declarations of their intentions and views as the dis1rabi- ity of the adoption of measures insuring the benefits of equality of treatment of all foreign trade throughout China.
 With gratifying unamity ther expenses coincided in their common policy enabling me to see in the successful termination of these negotiations proof of the friendly spirit which animates the various powers interested in the untrammeled development of commerce and industry in the Chinese Empire as source of vast benefit to the whole commercial world.
 In this conclusion, which I had the grat- ifcation to announce as completed en- gagement to the interested powers on March 20 1900, I hopefully discerned a po- tential factor for the abatement of the distress of the powers foreign which for a year past had appeared to inspire the policy of the imperial government and for the effective exertion by 1t of power and authority to quell the critical anti-foreign movement in tine Northern provinces most immediately influenced by the Manchuria sentiment.
 Seeking to testify confidence in the will lingness and ability of the imperial admins- tration to redress the wrongs and prevent the evils we suffered and feared, the ma rine guard, which had been sent to Pekin in the autumn of 1899 for the protection of the legation was withdrawn at the earl fest practicable moment and all pending questions were remitted far we concerned to the ordinary resorts of dip- lomatic intercourse.
 Chinese Government PowerIess.
 The Chinese government proved, how ever, unable to check the rising strength of the Boxers and appeared to be prey to internal dissensions. In the unequal contest tine anti-foreign influences soon gained the ascendancy under the leadership of Prince Tuan Organized armies of Box CTS, with whom the Imperial forces affil- lated, held the country between Pekin and the coast, penetrated into Manchuria up to the Russian border and through their emissaries threatened Nike rising through out Northern China.
 Attacks upon foreigners, destruction of their property and slaughter of native con- verts were reported from all sides. The Tsung Ii Yamen already permeated with hostile sympathies, could make no effec- tive response to the appeals of the lega- tions. At this critical juncture in the ear ly spring of this year. a proposal was made by the other powers that combined fleet should be assembled in Chinese wat CTS as moral demonstration under cover of which to exact of the Chinese govern merrt respect for foreign treaty rights and the suppression of the Boxers.
 The United States while not participa- ting in the joint demonstration, promptly sent from the Philippines all ships that could be spared for service on the Chinese coast A small force of marines was land ed at Taku and sent to Pekin for the pro- tection of the American legation. Other powers took similar action until some four hundred men were assembled in the capi- tai as legation guards.
 Still the peril increased. The legations reported the development of the seditious movement in Pekin and the need of in- creased provisions for defense against 1t. While preparations were in progress for larger expedition to strengthen the le- gation guards and keep the railway open an attempt of the foreign ships to effect a landing at Taku was met by firing from the Chinese forts The forts were there- upon shelled by the foreign vessels, the American Admiral taking no part in the attack on the ground that we were not at war with China and that a hostile dem
 ffyaneludad on Third PaQaA