The Portland daily press., 1900-08-30
United States Doing Its Utmost
in Opposition.

Washington, August ga special
meeting OF the cabinet lasting all day and
broken only by a short recess for lunch
con, marked the intense interest the adj
ministration feels In the Chinese problem
1t was the longest cabinet session of the
present administration. The diplomatic
and not the military phase of the situa-
ton in China was under consideration
and this accounts for the presence OF Act
ing Secretary Adee, a very unusual hap
pening at a cabinet meeting. Mr.. Adee is
the medium through which the foreign
governments communicate and he has
been in receipt of a good many state
ments recently. Last evening he and the
French charge, Mr.. Thiebaut, compared
the French and American copies of the
credentials of Lii Hung Chang. Today he
had long talks with Minister WI and the
German charge d'affaires and the sub
stance of these conversations he laid be-
fore the cabinet It is understood that
the cabinet today completed preparation
of plan for clearing away much of the
uncertainty that now exists as to the fu-
ture in China and outlined its views in
writing
The fact that the military situation
is admitted to be of secondary Importance
confirms the view, though no cabinet
officer would vouchsafe information on
this point, that what is sought is an
agreement among the powers for termi
49,
China 1t is believed that the point has
been reached where it is proper that there
should be a clear expression of purpose on
the part of the principal powers in order
that the United States government may
know how far it may go consistently in
the execution of the common programme.
Most Of the objects had in view by the
President when ne made answer to the
Chinese government appeal and began
the campaign upon Pekin, have been
achieved. TwoFothers remain to be SO.
cured. namely, the sareguar ling of Amer
lean interests for the future and some
proper guarantee for decentralization for
the expenses of recent operations and
losses OF American citizens
Some plan by which these objects can
be attained by the United States in COM
mon with similar objects by the other
powers engaged in China, is thought
feasible. Inciden tai to this main purpose
several phases of the problem are at
tracing special attention. Thus the suffi-
cheney of Ii Hung Changes credentials
as peace envoy, or rather Of the ability
of the Emperor of China to accredit any
one thus, is a matter of international
consideration. The United States must
not only satisfy itself Of Li's competency
but it must convey solid assurance on
that point to convince some of the other
powers, the purposes OF which perhaps
would not be best served by a speedy ter
mination of hostiIities in China. It was
the general understanding that the out
come of today cabinet meeting would
be the adoption of a policy by the admin
istration that would tend to
SIMPLIFY THESE ISSUES
and at least to bring to a focus the vary
ing aspirations of the powers. Ii this
cannot be done, then the question to be
determined is whether or not the United
States shall proceed further, hand in
hand, with the allied forces, 1t Is be-
lieved that this point is very near a de-
cision, our determination depending upon
the responses made by European nations
to our inquiries.
The suggestion that a conference be
held Of the nations represented in China
is again revived as an accompaniment
of this purpose ana it is pointed out that
with Special Commissioner Rockhiu Just
about arriving on Chinese soil, with
Mumm Won Schwartzenstein, the Ger
man successor to Baron Won Ketteler,
already In China, with the minister's
resident in Pekin and with the high
military and naval officials in the Pei
Ho valley, the material is already at hand
for the gathering Of a conference fully
equipped to deal with even so complex
and difficult problem as is presented in
the settlement of Chinas future.
There are hopes tina communication
with China, very much delayed of late
Will be better soon. Consul Fowler at