The age-herald., 1901-02-19
UNITED STATES
 WILL NIT JOIN
 TIE MOVEMENT Our Government Faces a &c.,
 r0uS. Crisis iR China .CHAFFEE WILL TAKE NO PART Notice of WaIdersee'S fxpedi- ton Regarded With Dismay IMMEDIATE ACTION NECESSARY Question as to Whether America Should Try to Dssuade Germany
 From Hostile Movements.
 Cabinet Will Discuss It.
Notice of WaIdersee'S fxpedi- ton Regarded With Dismay
IMMEDIATE ACTION NECESSARY

Washington, February 1S.-The United States government is facing a serious crisis In China, owing to the announce mcnt of the purpose of Field Marshal Count von Waldersee to begin another of fensive campaign.
 General Chaffee has been invited to join in the expedition, which is to be mob olized on a larger scale than anything attempted in China since the original march to Pekin. The general so informed the War Department today and the offi- ciais ot the State Department have been advised of the situation
 This German movement is viewed with absolute dismay here, for 1t is feared that it requires an immediate decision by the United States government on it's whole line of policy toward the Chinese ques- ton.
 General Chaffee will be told that he is has been keeping the American forces in Pekin ever since the city was pacified simply as a legation guard, and the Ger man government IS fully aware that the United States government purposely de- prived the American contingent in China of its offensive military character and withdrew it from the command of Count von Waldersee in order to hastsn~a aeaee negotiations and prevent, so far as 1t could, the military movement against the Chinese, which were at once unnec- essary and painful upon their effect upon the peace movement. So our government l., aI,a glA otherwise than to cause General Chaffee to refrain from any participation in the hostile movements so long as the present conditions continue.
 Another Serious Point.
 But another very serious point under consideration is not whether Chaffee shall join the German movement, but whether 1t is not the duty of our gov ernment to exercise all proper efforts to dssuade the German government from undertaking this campaign.
 The Chinese government is unfortunate ly delaying the peace negotiations in an exasperating fashion, and is not respond ing in proper spirit to the effort of the United States government. Word has just come from Minister Conger which con firms the press advices relative to the Chinese declination to accede to the de- |. mands of the ministers in the matter of capital punishment of the leaders im- plicated in the Boxer movement
 MT. Conger's message touching the sub ject of punishments gave it to be under stood that the Chinese government has agreed to exile Princes Yuan and Ian tAI suicide to Prince Chwang, death to Yu Hsien and Chao Shi Chao, imprisonment and degredation from office for Ting Men and some punishment not yet determined for Chi Hsu and Hsu Cheng Yu. It is said that an edict already has been issued to execute these sentences.
 United States Investigating.
 visiting Japanese minister to the State Department served to give color to the story that our government is cast ing about to ascertain how far the other powers, party to the Chimes question, will endorse this proposed campaign. The whole subject, it was said, is to come be- fore the cabinet meeting tomorrow, when the course to be pursued by the United Etates government will be deter mined. As it is felt to be the part of sound policy to endeavor to check further military operations upon a helpless peo- pie, it Is probable that the cabinet meet ing will result in an effort by the State Department to ascertain what support it can secure for a dissenting German pro- gramme It is said unequivocally by com petent authority that the American mln- tary forces under no circumstances will participate with the Germans in the pro- posed expedition.
 It is realized to be extremely desirable to avoid offending German pride in this matter, but it Is hoped that by an appeal to the conservative forces of the empire, made not by the United States govern ment alone, but with powerful seconds in the shape of Russia and perhaps Ja- pan. the German government will be brought to see that good policy and good faith both will be best served by avoid ing interference with the peace negotia- tions at this stage