The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-23
WE WILL WASH
OUR HANDS OF
THE CHINESE
When the Americans In Pekin Have
Been Eelieved-Will Look to the
Preservation of Our Privileges.
DIRECT APPEAL TO UNCLE SAM
70 Use His Influence in Extricating
the Henthen Government From
ITS Present Difficulty.

WASHINGTON, D. c.. July 2s.-
President Mckinley has received what
purports to be q direct appeal from the
Chinese imperial government to use
his good offices to extricate that gov
ernment from the difficulty and dam
gerous position In which 1t has been
placed as n result of the boxer uprising
and the ensuing hostile attitude Of the
great powers. Although the exact text
of the appeal made by the emperor Of
China to France. us outlined in the
cabinet dispatch of yesterday, has not
been made. known here. 1t is believed
that the address to the President Is
similar In terms to that communication.
In our case the communication was
made through Minister WI to the
state department. Thus far q final an
swer has not been returned. The
French government answered at once.
but that, answer will not serve US. The
United States government is conscien-
tlously proceeding upon an entirely dif-
ferent line Of policy In the treatment OF
the case. Unfortunately. the state de-
partment finds itself alone In this; but
nevertheless 1t is convinced that its
plan Is the best and 1t has behind 1t the
consollng assurance that at present all
OF the European governments have tao
lily admitted that an error was made in
the beginning in not following the COM
mon sense advice Of the United States
naval commander at Taku.
Assume Hostile Attitude.
The point OF difference between the
state department and the European
governments is that the latter nre pro-
ceedlng upon the belief that all Of the
foreign ministers and missionaries and
guards at Pelsin have been killed and
insist upon dealing with the Chinese
government upon that basis, thereby
assuming hostile attitude that tends
to destroy the last chance of avalling
OF whatever friendly sentiment may
yet exist among the powerful Chinese
viceroys and the imperial government
Itself. Thus the French reply. as indi.
Gated In the four conditions laid down
by M. Delcasse yesterday. sets an i'm
possible task for the imperial govern
ment In Its present straits and tends to
drive 1t at once to make terms with the
boxers and Prince Tuan's party.
on the other hand our government,
while not guaranteeing the truth OF the
advices from the Chinese government
as to the safety OF the foreign minis.
tiers, is willing to accept the statements
temporarily. In tho meantime remltting
none of Its efforts to get access TO Mr..
Conger through the use Of military
force, II need be. BY following out this
policy tho state department argues that
It retain two chances instead OF one.
It may reach Mr.. Conger with troops
and 1t also may secure his deliverance
to the friendly offices OF some OF the
powerful Chinese officials, which the
powers are not likely to obtain for their
own people by following out their pres
ent policy.
Win Not Relinquish the Claim.
1t may be stated also. that the Uni
ted Suites government has not md
does not intend to rcllnquish any part
OF Its claim for compensation and rep
arntion in the ultimate settlement. It's
position in that respect. 1t holds. will
not be affected unfavorably by prose-
cutting It's efforts to make use OF tho
friendly sentiments ri the Chinese off,
cials. a particularly deploruble effect
OF the reasoning OF the European gov
ernments on this point, In the cstima-
tion Of our governr cnt. Is tn aban-
donment Of the idea that there Is pur-
tIcular need for haste and taking even
desperate chances in the effort to get
the international relief column through
to Pekin. II Is true that the latest nd
Vices from Taku indicate that whereas
It was originally estimated by the for
eign commanders that the expedition
could not be started before August 15.
1t Is now regarded by them as possible
to make n beginning about the first Of
August. But the military experts
here who have been closely scanning
all the reports from TIen Tsln that mp
pear to be worthy Of credit, feel that
even now the wny Ia open to Pekin, and
that the march should begin with the
force mt present on the Pci-IIo. leaving
the powers TO bring up reinforccncnta
to reopen the base. should the first ex-
pedltlon be cut of.
Flower Of Chinese Army Defeated.
According to the latest official reports
the country around Tien Tsip Ia clear
of hostile Chinese. The flower Of tho
Chinese army In that section has been
defeated Mt Tien TsIn md these army
experts calculate that lts power is so
broken that thnt particular army mover
can be reorganlzed In season 20 offer
formidable resistance. So they nrguo
that the time Is rlpe for stroke of bold
gencralship. such for instance. ns
French's ride TO Kimberley.
Further proof of m official character
OF tho mistake made by foreign COM
manders in the attack upon the. Talsu