Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-09-03

Washington, Aug. 29.-Several COM
munications came to Washington from
United States officials in China yester-
day, but being dateless in most cases
the government was by no means salts
fed and the cabinet meeting gave tna
large part of it's attention to the prob
lem of rectifying this state of affairs.
Evidences of interference with mes
sages have accumulated to point
where the government has determined
to take steps to establish channels Of1ts
own, even if it is necessary to employ
the rather expensive device OF MAUI
of-war plying between Shanghai and
Chefoo for this purpose. Meanwhile
word comes that rapid progress is MAX
ing with the shore cable which is TO
connect these points. 1t is beAeved
within week this means Of communi-
cation will be open. Three messages
from Gen. Chaffee were received yes
terday and while they cast no direct
light on the military situation they are
inferentially important. The general S
statement that he needs no siege bat
terry seems to make clear that there is
no intention to enter into prolonged
campaign in China such as would in
volve the use of heavy artillery, or re-
Inducements in the shape of men and
horses
It begins to appear as if the BATTLE OF
today is one of diplomacy rather than
one of arms. Notwithstanding various
rumors have filtered out from Chinese
sources Of heavy engagements between
the international forces and boxers,
officials here are satisfied that no form
liable organized resistance will be Of
fered by the Chinese if the demands OF
the powers is limited to the principles
laid down by the United States. There
fore more interest is attached to tile
series Of diplomatic calls upon Acting
Secretary Adee, than any report OF
purely military operations in China.
First came the Japanese minister, Ia
kahira, next the Russian charge, VOL
liant, finally Thiebaut, the French
charge. These trained diplomats are
naturally averse to letting the public
know the developments OF incomplete
negotiations. Nevertheless it was
gathered that one of the principal
topics of discussion was the prOpriety
of accepting Ii Hung Chang as the
proper person with whom the powers
might negotiate for a settlement in
China. The statement is made that
the Russian government for one, is
willing to deal with Lii, of course upon
properly framed conditions. This ap-
pears to be borne out by the earnest
ness with which Wollant, the Russian
charge, is seeking to impress upon the
state department the entire agreement
between Russia and the United States
as to China At least he insists that
Russia wishes to prevent the dismem-
berment of China and also that her
animating purpose now is the restora-
ton of order and the safeguarding of
the future.
under these limitations it is urged
here that Russia's object can be
achieved as we'll as those of the United
States by dealing with Ii Hung Chang,
who occupies the advantageous posi-
ton of being the only Chinese person
age so for officially credited as peace
plenipotentiary. One of the officials
of the government stated that the
United States is not going to turn tail
and run because some of the powers
show disposition to break the COM
pact under which we became allies in
China The question of actual force in
China is secondary-one regiment OF
United States troops is as good as 100,-
900 men to establish principle. An
indignity offered them will be resented
as quickly as if we had 100000 men on
Chinese soil and the United States gov
eminent is willing to try the case as
to whether one thing could be said on
July 3, and accepted by all the powers
and changed two months later to adj
vance selfish interests" NotWitn-
standing this firm attitude on the part
OF the government there is not the
least doubt that friction between the
powers can be averted and that the re-
sources of diplomacy will be equal to
the needs of the present case.