The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-08-30
CABINETS SPECIAL MEETING
-DIPLOMATIC PHASE OF CHINESE
SITUATION DISCUSSED.

SITUATION DISCUSSED.
Plan to Clear Away Uncertainty as to
Chinu's Future-An Expression OF
Purpose Desired from Other Powers
Vital Question of American Policy
Much Depends on Answers from Other
Nations to the Governments G Inquiries
Attitude of Some of the Powers as
Recently Expressed The Partition of
China - Suggestion of an 1nterna-
tionaI Conference Again Revived.
Washington, Aug. ga special
meeting of the cabinet lasting all day
and broken only by short recess for
luncheon marked the intense interest Of
the administration in the Chinese prob
lem. 1t was the longest cabinet ses-
sion of the present administration.
A Mole Formulated.
The session was devoted to the con-
sideration of the diplomatic problems
NotiA'S~N'SN@
the Chinese situation as a result of the
position taken by the powers and even
tuated in the formulation of document
for transmission abroad. That this
document is of supreme Importance in
defining the position of the United
States is assumed from the prolonged
and careful attention with which 1t was
prepared and considered. but no glim-
mer of light is shed upon its exact char
acter. All efforts to ascertain whether
1t was in the nature of a reply to Ger
many or Russia or a collective note to
the powers outlining the policy of the
United States under the new conditions
which have developed since the rescue
of the legations We're futile.
Military Situation Secondary.
The fact that the military situation
is admitted to be of secondary import
ance confirms the view, though no cab
met officer would vouchsafe informa-
ton on this point, that what is sought
is an agreement among the powers for
terminating the indefinite status of af-
fairs in China 1t is believed that the
point has been reached where 1t is
proper that there should be clear ex-
preston of purpose on the part of the
principal powers, in order that the
United States government may know
how far it may go consistently in the
execution of the common programme
Nest of the objects had In view by the
president when he made answer TO the
Chinese governments appeal,a began
the campaign upon Pekin, have been
achieved Two others remain to be Sc
cured, namely, the safeguarding of /
American interests for the future and |
some proper guarantee for indemnifi
cation for the expenses of recent oper |
ations and losses of American citizens. /
Some pan by which these objects can
be attained by the United States in
common with similar objects by the
other powers engaged in China is
thought feasible. Incidental to this
main purposes several phases of the /
problem are attracting special atten-
tion.
LII Hung Chnng's Credentials.
Thus the sufficiency af Ii Hung
Changes credentials as a peace envoy
or rather the ability of the emperor Of
China to accredit anyone thus, is a
matter Of international consideration.
i
fly itself of Lis competency, but it must
convey solid assurance on that point
to convince some of the other powers,
the purposes of which perhaps would
not be best served by a speedy termina-
tion of hostilities in China.
Vital Question of Policy.
1t was the general understanding
that the outcome Of to-days cabinet
meeting would be the adoption of a
policy by the administration that
would tend to simplify these issues and ]
at least to bring to a focus the vary
ing aspira tons of the powers. If this
cannot be done then the question to be :
determined is whether or not the Uni {
ted States shall proceed further, hand I
in hand with the allied forces. 1t is !
believed that this point is very near a !
decision, our determination depending t
upon the responses made by European j
nations to our inquiries. t
An International Conference. {
The suggestion that a conference be '
held of the nations represented in China t
is again revived as an accompaniment s
of this purpose, and 1t is pointed out
that with Special Commissioner Rock r
hill just about arriving on Chinese soil, I
with Baron Won Schwartzenstein, the 4
German successor to Baron Won Kettler, 6
already in China, with the ministers
resident in Pekin, and with the high
military and naval officials in the Pei h
Ho valley, the material is already at V
hand for the gathering of a conference
fully equipped to deal with even so
complex and difficult a problem as is
presented in the settlement Of Chinas 9
'1It,1re