Willmar tribune., 1900-09-19
Mckinley MUST DECIDE.
Troops from Peking Waits
for Executive Action.


for Executive Action.
Washington, Sept. 13.-The ques-
tion of withdrawing the American
troops at once from Peking is now be-
fore the president and speedy de-
cision is expected and required. There
are differences among officials in Pc
king on this subject and the issue is
for the president to decide. The ac-
ton of the French government, as re-
ported by cable dispatches, in joining
of troops has brought about the con-
tingency touched upon in the reply
to Russia in the following language:
"The result of these considerations is
that unless there is such general express
sion by the powers in favor of continued
occupation as to modify the views ex-
pressed by the government of Russia and
lead to general agreement for continued
occupation, we shall give instructions to
the commander of the American forces in
China to withdraw our troops from Peking
after due conference with the other COM
manders as to time and manner of with
drawal.'
Gen. Chaffee was made acquainted
with the attitude of the government
and was directed to hold himself in
readiness to withdraw his troops.
Undoubtedly he has conferred with
the other commanders as to the time
and manner of withdrawal, according
to the terms of the note. The send
ing of further supplies to him has
been stopped and he now awaits but
the signal from Washington to begin
his movement. It is for the president
to give that signal.
The considerations now before him
in favor of immediate withdrawal are:
| First, the fact that he is already COM
| mitted in a measure to such course
| by the above quoted language in re-
! ply to the Russian note; second, it is
represented that China is on the verge
of terrible famine and the retention
of the troops in Peking, preventing
as they do the return of the Chinese
government and the supply of pro-
visions to the capital, places the re-
sponsibility for what threatens to be
a frightful calamity upon the powers
who sanctioned the occupation.
On the other hand, strong repre-
sentations have been made to the
president in opposition to withdrawal
in advance of the procurement of alb
| solutely sufficient guarantees for the
! protection of American interests in
| China and for the safety of the native
| Christians. This last addition is one
most difficult to meet, but, being in
sisted upon by the missionary ele-
| ment, is being given most careful con-
| sideration.
London, Sept. 13.-Statements were
| current in the European capitals last
evening that all the powers had re-
piled to the Russian proposition; that
Great Britain and Germany had de-
clined to evacuate Peking; that Aus
tria and Italy had decided to be
guided by Germany's decision. and
that the other powers had agreed to
more or less modified withdrawal.
The Paris correspondent of the Morn
ing Post claims to know that the
allies will only withdraw outside the
walls of the capital, where they will
continue to dominate Peking in mil
itary sense.
London, Sept 13.-All the corre-
spondents in China are sending terri
BILE stories of the wholesale massacre
of missionaries and native Christians.
1t is asserted that during July be-
tween $4,000 and 10000 converts were
massacred in the northern provinces.
Large numbers of missionaries are
still unaccounted for and small hope
is entertained of their escape. Native
reports are subject to the most care
full scrutiny, with the result that, al
though there may be some exaggera-
ton, it is impossible to doubt that in
the main they are correct. The hor-
ror is intensified by confirmation of
the reports that the women are SUBJ
jected to unspeakable barbarities and
tortures, being stripped and slowly
clubbed to death. This was one of the
mildest methods. The Boxers wreaked
fendish vengeance. The newspapers
are calling loudly for swift punish
ment. Fears are expressed lest the
Russian government, which does not
encourage missionary propaganda,
should prove lukewarm in this mat
ter.