The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-01

be separate action by the powers in
China the United States proposes to
deal with the situation with a free hand.
1t may be noted. in connection wish our
withdrawal statement. that whereas
Russia proposed to withdraw from China
our offer is to withdraw only from Pcki1.
s. significant fact is that General Cha'fce
who is we'll advised of the situation, IS
continuing his preparations for winterjng
the American troops in China. Unlcts
the men are out Of Pei Ho within the
next six weeks they are likely to be ice
bound. General Chaffee was further ad-
vised today of the developments in the
situation compendous statement Of the
points in the Russo American correspond
ence being cabled to him for his guild
ance As bearing further on the pros
poets Of the future. it may be noted
that the War Department officials state
that the Government has not considered
the question of the evacuation of China.
1t scarcely is expected that even with
the aid of the cable complete accord
can be reached upon this last proposition
Immediately Up to the close of the
official day only two communications had
been received in consequence OF our last
note. One was from the British For
egn office, merely promising considera-
tion for the note. and one from Germany
wishing for time 10 consider the PROPOSE
tion. The officials here say that they
are satisfied that Japan. at lea5-, is
fully in accord with our objects as set
out in the note, and rather expect an
early answer from her. France has not
been heard from on this point, her last
communication relating entirely 20 tie
matter of Ii Hung Changs status. The
full text of the French Government
answer to Lii Hung Chang's peace p"opo-
sails of August 18th and 2lst has just
been received here. They proved to be
almost identical in language with the
reply of the American Government which
laid down as a preliminary TO peace over
lures that security in the Chinese capital
and responsible Government authority te
established
1t has developed in the course of the
careful consideration which officials have
given to Ii Hung Chang's credentials
that they were issued by the Empress
Dowager and not by the Emneror
wang Tsu. This may have an inlpor-
kwang Tsu. This may have an impor
up the authority of the Empress Dow
ager since the coup d'etat of September
9th, 1898, when she took the reins CT pow
er from the hands of the Emperor. 1t
involves, also, the issues between the
Empress Dowager who is anti-foreign
and the Emperor, who is proforeign.
still further consideration is the Rus
sian sympathies entertained by the Em-
press Dowager as against the British
sympathies held by the Emperor. -
Although the exact whereabouts of Ii
Hung Chang continues to be in doubt it
is the understanding of diplomatic Off
cials that he is now in continuous COM
munication with the imperial household
and thus is enabled to convey to them
the prospect Of a return to the Chinese
capital. The expected return of Prince
Ching to Pekin is said to be result of
this communication between Earl Ii and
and the imperial family, and to be the
initial move of responsible authorities to-
ward the capital. There is reason to be-
lieve also that Earl Lii is now in frequent
telCgraphic correspondence with Euro
pean capitals, he, failing to get from
Washington an acceptance of his over
lures having turned to Europe and more
particularly 10 Russia. 1t was stated
today as an additional reason for Ameri-
can acceptance of Ii Hung Chang. that
his confidential secretary and adviser
is an American, MIR. Pethick, formerly
of the American consulate service at
Tien Tsin and regarded as a man of
exceptional ability and scrupulous integ-
rity.
The disposition to look for ulterior
motives in Russias plans is met by
the statement. in authoritative quarters
that such suspicious show a lack of
familiarity with Russia's traditional
friendship with China. they having been
on good and neighborly terms since 1914
This unselfsh and neighborly sentiment,
it is maintained, is the chief motive for
Rusia's present course.