The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-03
PLACED IN nan LIGHT.

The friends of the President, in
their efforts to get some credit out Of the
Chinese trouble for his administration,
place the Chinese government in very
unpleasant position. They say that il was
Secretary Hays diplomacy that caused
the attacks on the legations in Pekn 10
be stopped. The way they state the mat
ter is this: All Europe was sneering al
American diplomacy and laughing at the
creduIity of the President in placing con-
fidence in the genuineness of the first dis
patch that was received from Minister
Conger. European diplomats thought the
President and Secretary Hay were wo-
fully lacking in diplomatic shrewdness in
trusting MI WI, the Chinese minister at
Washington. As a matter of fact, how
ever. it was by believing in Minister WI
and treating the Conger dispatch as gen.
uine that the ministers in Pekin were
saved When Minister Conger's dispatch
was received Secretary Hay suggested to
Minister WI that he communicate to the
Chinese government information of the
friendly attitude of the United States,
point out that the firing on the Taku forts
might have been a mistake that could be
rectified and recommend that the at
tacks on the legations cease at once. 1t
seems that Minister WI acted on the sug-
gestion of Secretary Hay, and, as a re-
suit, the attacks ceased.
Now, assuming that this view of the
situation is correct, does it not place the
Chinese government in a very bad light?
That government is trying to make it APP
pear that il is not responsible for the at
tacks on the legations-that the Legations
were assaulted by mobs that were beyond
the control of the government. But, if the
claim made for Secretary Hay is correct,
the government had absolute control of
the mob. it, indeed. it did not incite 1t TO
attack the legations. But whether the
legations were attacked by mob or by
imperial soldiers, or both, the attacks on
the legations were stopped. according to
the friends of the administration, when
the government thought it advisable TO
stop them.
When the time for settlement comes
what would become of the credit claim
ed for Secretary Hay If the Chinese gov
eminent should declare that at no time
prior TO the cessation of the attacks on
the legations did it have control of those
attacking them? 1t is apparent that the
claim of credit for Secretary Hay would
disappear at once. The claim is based on
the assumption that the government con-
troiled the soldiers and the mob that I'M
,1ertool1 10 assassinate the ministers and
all the other members of the legations.
IF the government should admit this claim
it would place itself in a position that
would justify the Powers in insisting upon
a very large indemnity. 1t is hardly prob
able therefore that the government will
make the admission that would support
the claim for credit made by the friends of
The administration. Even the United States
seem disposed to take the position that
Pekin has been, and still is, in the hands
of a mob and that the government has
been powerless to protect itself, much less
the foreigners there.
It would be the wiser course for the
friends of the administration to pursue,
to make no claim of credit for it in con-
nection with affairs in China until it is
definitely known that there is some ground
for the claim