The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-02
\ LITTLE. ENCOURAGEMENT.
Derived by officials From the Mes
sages From China

saGes From China.
Washington, July 1.-To-day's adv!ces
10 the state dc partment, made up of two
te egrams frcm Consul General Goodnow.
brought The foreign ministers at Pelxin
along one day further in safety showing
that they were still alive, with the prob
allie exception Of the German minister
who, it seems likely, had been murdered
some days Trior TO the --latest advices.
Some eucourageme is drawn by the Of
ficials from tie fact that TIE otter min
isters were i've on the latter date. for
officials believe that the diplomatic corps
at Pekin could not have been preserved
through the fury of the first stages of the
outbreak only to fall victims to sober sec
ord thought. There is also at least the in.
dieation that the Chinese government it
self was protecting them.
On the other hand, she statements that
the VIGOROUSLY ant-foreign Prince Tuan
Is in complete control at Pekin is re-
%arced as an exceedingly grave develop
ment, and Is tending to fix clearly respon-
sibility for the happenings of the past
three weeks directly upon the Pekin gov
eminent. An amelorating condition is the
refusal OF the great Viceroys, themselves
of almost absolute power in their prov
inces, to be controlled from Pekin in their
attitude toward foreigners.
A high official of the State Department
said to-day that there is nothing now to
do but to follow out the course the State
department already has adopted namely.
TO have the United States consus put
themselves in communication with the
Viceroys of the provinces; treating the
central government at Pekin as incapac-
tated for administrative work and doing
all in their power TO protect in their re-
spective duties. The signs of an AMIGA
bic disposition on the part of these vice
roys Is probably the basis for the hope
that they can be induced at least 10
stand neutral and keep their provinces in
order If 1t shai be necessary to direct
hostilities theoretically against the Pekin
government
This course seems to be absolutely ne
Cessary now, unless DEVELOPMENTS in the
immediate future demonstrate the mac
curacy of Consul General Gocdnows ad-
vices relative to the status of affairs at
Pekin.
There is no authority for the statement
that our cover ment feels that what must
be cone at orce is 10 drive forward re-
LIEF force to Pekin REGARDLESS OF the
strength required So far it has not been
regarded as necessary to do more in the
way of military preparations to this end
than has been done, and conse quentlv no
further reinforcsments have been ordered
70 Taku There is doubt here as to the
sufticiency of he force now there 10 un-
dertake the work. Admiral Kempff yes
terday reported that 14OC0 men of all
arms were ashore, without stating def
nitely where they were
II is not known whether or not the sec
ond expedition directed against Picking has
Yet started from Taku or Ten Tsin In
this state of ignorance as to the military
situation, it is not possible to act inteli-
gently from Washington in the direction
OF adding to our naval and military stength
beyond the sailors, marines and regular
soldiers already under orders for Chino.
1t would seem that TO accomplish effective
work some kind of an understanding must
be reached among the powers interested
beyond the rather vague I'M
der which they are now proceeding.
small foreign force made up of diff
ferent nationalities working under a tan
gibie understanding and, perhaps even
under one seneralship, might accomplish
greater things than more numerous forces
working Independently, and if it is possi
bic TO reach an accord among the Powers
as 20 the precise object Of the reXt military
expedition, treating. perhaps, only of the
immediate objects of relieving the minis
ters and other foreigners who are in dan
ger ahu leaVlnS other great questions as
70 the future of China to be deit with
hereafter, il is probable that the United
States will cheerfully adhere. This gov
eminent has not yet regarded the develop
ments as demanding the assembling of
Congress in extraordinary session to de-
clare war, and il is possible that the dis
patch of more renforcements to Chua
from Manila and the United States may
not require congressional action as long
as the object is strictly to euccor Ameri-
can citizens in distress and danger.