New-York tribune., 1900-07-18
PRESIDENTS DECISION.
NO EXTRA SESSION OF CON-
GRESS AT PRESENT.
TO COPE WITH THE SITUATION IN
CHINA-RESULTS OF CABINET
COUNCIL.
s. ALREADY POSSFSSED
COUNCIL
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE 1R1nrxr.1


Washington. July 1.-THE President has de-
termned that the facts now known to US do
not require justify calling an extra session
Of Congress Should future developments indi-
cate that he is unable to do what is required
with the now at his command and the
action Of Congress is necessary 10 furnish either
men or money authority, he will not hesitate
to call it together"
This is the authoritative statement issued
from to-day's Cabinet meeting. The heads OF
departments had been in full accord IN the de-
cision that no occasion had arisen 10 declare
war on China, and that the President was pos
sessed OF ample power to protect American lives
and property on the linee a,rady adopted with
out an appeal for legislative action Of any char
acter at present. Beyond the Army and naval
forces already In China or ordered there
amounting to more than thirteen thousand
men, no more will be sent rnless the situation
becomes more alarmin~ than is shown by the
latest authentic dispatches Efforts will be
made to expedite the departure Of marines and
Regulars destined for the East. but further re-
ductions Of the Philippine garrisons will be
avoided if possible. Existing amicable relations
with Chinese officials Will continue the way 10
Peking will be opened. and tho-o responsible for
the destruction Of American lives and property
will be punished Beyond these lines this Gov
eminent is not now disposed to announce its
intentions.
THE PRESIDENT IN NO DOUBT
The President in the course of his stav IN
canton since June 80 has been too closely in
touch with the State War and NAVY denarr
Hcnts TO lose any detail of the Chinese commit
cetons- He was satisfied from the beginning
as to the scope Of his powers for affording pro
lection to American interests. He has never
doubted that he had ample authority and means
for the guarding OF the American Legation at
Peking from mob violence
Recognizing a state of virtual anarchy at
Feklng. with portion of the Imperial troops
IN revolt and probably in coIIusion with the
anti-foreign fanatical movement. he was arm
IN his belief that the most favorable course TO
pursue for the safety Of Americans in China was
! not by asking Congress to declare war on that
( nation, but rather to exercise his own powers
within their constitutional and treaty Hnita-
uons. Fortunately, the fiscal year has Just be-
gun and the large annual appropriations for
| the maintenance of the Army and Navy have
| been scarcely touched, though fully available
| Before these funds could be exhausted bv sucb
operations as the President feels called upon to
| undertake. Congress will assemble in regular
| session, and will be ready TO meet anv possible
| deficiency, though none is contemplated at pres
| ent Little if any additional cost viii be en-
| tailed by using the troops in China over the
| aTounts estimated for duty in the Philippines
A
same, and the Army will have 10 be fed
| clothed and armed whether il is in China or
| elsewhere. Moreover. there is a balance of
| about $22oOOOO Of an emergency fund in the
| Treasury, which is directly under the control
| Of the President, and can be used by him for
| such purposes as he may specify. This Is a
| balance of the Spanish war fund which Con-
| gress subsequently made available TO enable
! the President to meet unforeseen conditions such
| as might arise in the Philippines Cuba or other
| localities where American interests were liable
10 be imperilled.
POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE
| The questions Of men and morey being met,
there remained tnat of executive authority
which had already been carefully studied for
| several weeks. The President has the right ia
employ all the forces at his command in defence
OF American interests IN China when that Gov
eminent is clearly unable to afford such ade-
quate protection Under the treaty OF 1874 still
operative, the extraterritoriaI jurisdiction OF the
United States was fully recognized the protec-
ton of the laws and power of this country being
specifically extended to all Americans in that
country. exactly if they were in United
States territory. A long line Of precedents not
only in China. Corea and Japan, but in the fire.
quently unstable American republics. has firmly
fixed on the President the responsibility OF pro-
tecting Americans whenever the Government OF
their temporary residence is unable or unwilling
10 guarantee them security of life and prop
erty. In carrying out this established policy
the President believes he would have no warrant
for summoning Congress at this time
Should he. however, feel constrained in honor
bound account Of an unavoidable agreement
with the Powers to furnish oCota OF troops
largely in excess of that now contemplated.
doubtless it would be necessary TO resort TO the
convening Of Congress. both for the purpose OF
advising with the Senate and with the view
OF having Congress decide what retribuJion
should be meted out TO the Chinese Conirma-
ton of the destruction of ;he American Lega-
ton with the encouragement of the Government.
coupled with spread of the anti-fOreign cru
sade to the southern provinces. might promptly
compel the calling together of Congress.
NO CAUSE FOR DECLARING WAR
The most significant feature Of to-day's de-
termination TO retain exclusively in executive
hands the conduct Of the Chinese campaign on
the lines already laid down, the unanimous
agreement that no occasion exists for a decIara-
ton of So long The great provinces
where American interests are largest and Amer
lean commerce is greatest. continue TO manifest
peace and friendship. and. while the assaults on
citizens OF the United States are confined TO a
restricted territory admittedly in revolt the
President hopes 10 avert a declaration which he
is warned will bring the whole Chinese Empire
TO war with this country
The President reached the White House at
1:3O o'clock and for the first time in nearly three
weeks the flag raised over the building 10
denote his presence, and the usual curious
crowd gathered. At 2:30 the Cabinet assembled
by appointment, those present being Secretaries
Hay Root, Gage and long. and Postmaster