The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-02
THE RUssO-AMERICAN rROPosI-
TIoN

( In dealing with the Chinese situation
the dlplomatists. from present Indications.
I have a task that Will be longer and harder
! than that which the generals had who
rescued the foreigners who we're bcsleged
IN the British legation IN Pokin. II was
I hoped that az soon as the work 81 rescu-
/ Ing the ministers was completed. the Pow
ers would have but little dinieulty IN
agreeing upon a policy 20 be pursued in
dealing with China. IL De- beginning to he
apparent. however. that % viii not b. an
easy matter 60 reach an agreement. The
Powers. with the exception OF the United
States. are Jealous o. each other. Zach
one suspects the other OF designs on CHI
nese territory, and. consequently. No one
OF them puts fun confidence In the declar-
aticus OF the other. The United States
and Russia are willing 20 withdraw from
Pckin at once. They have reached an
understanding on that point Russia. in
deed. Is ready 20 withdraw from China.
and It rs probable that the United States
are also willing.
The other Powers are now debating the
question as TO whether they are willing
to withdraw from Pckln. IL Is said thar
England was very much surprised 60 earn
that the United states had agreed with
Russia 20 withdraw from Pekln. She does
not trust Russia. Her Idea Is that Russia
Is anxious for peace now IN order 10 com
plete the siberian Railway. because. when
she has completed the road. she will be
In a position 10 seize the whole OF Man
eEurla. II that is Russlas purpose she
has given no evidence OF %. Naturally
England does not want to withdraw from
China without an understanding as 20
whether Russia intends TO seize part OF
the territory OF the Chinese Empire IN
the near future.
The belief f. that Germany viii not con-
sent 10 the Russo-American proposition.
mand a very large indemnity IN territory
for the assassination OF her minister. \
German field marshal has been appointed
20 command the allied forces. and Il IS
not probable that Germany viii be willing
to withdraw her troops from Pekin be-
Aott NlN hitANAlf anu ANE ANdNNtS are AAuA
she will not consent to their withdrawal
until the question OF indemnity is settled.
Japan was cheated out OF the solid ben
onts OF her successful war with China in
1895. and u may be considered certain that
she intends to have her share Of what
ever benefits come from the present ,rou-
BILE with China. Neither France. Austria
nor Italy has given any intimation as TO
what she thinks OF the Russo-American
position. and Il is probable that nothing
will be heard from them until they know
the decision OF England and Germany.
Il is quite safe to say. however. that
there will not be prompt agreement be-
tween the Powers. The chances are rath-
er against an agreement being reached.
In the meantime the American people are
anxious that the American troops shall
BE- withdrawn from Pekin. and even from
China. They are apprehensive that II
they are KEEP; there while the Powers are
trying TO reach an understanding there
VIII be complications that win lead to
further and more serious trouble. The
United states do not want any territory.
They simply want equal trade advantages.
II Is doubtful u there would be an enor,
TO deprive them OF these advantages even
II they should withdraw from China at
once