Evening star., 1901-02-19

The reluctance OF the administration TO
engage i'm any forward military movements
I'm China at present may well be appreciated
when the situation is examined There are
uow in progress az Pekin certain neSotla-
tions with representatives of the Chlhese
empire. having for their object the resto-
ration of peace and orderly government
and the establishment OF relations between
China and the powers leading to the future
security of foreign interests in the empire.
Certain conditions have been imposed upon
China to which she demurs. notably the
requirement that number of the Leading
reactiOnarieS be put To death as PUNISH
ment and as an example The negotiations
have been halted by this refusal of the
government at Singan Fu and the interna-
tionalS are now confronted with the PROB
lem of securing sufficient pledges from
China that the reforms considered as es-
s-ntial to permanent peace will be exc
cuted.
Pending these negotiations, anticipating
a belligrrent refusal by China to comply
with the terms. and calculating 10 frighten
or force the government into a hasty ac-
ccptance. Count Won Waldersee. the Ger
man commander. who is likewise in general
command of the allied troops. save those of
the I-uited States. plans expedition of
considerable size. for the purpose of scour-
ing the provinces near Pekin, and perhaps
penetrating westward. The obvious intent
is L. coerce China by force Of arms. =.
It j. believed by this country that the
time has not Vet come for such a demon
s-ration. If indeed it Will be necessary to
engage in hOstilities in China; that the
negotiations may Yet he continued upon a
diplomatic basis. and thai, annoying though
the delay may be. il is not yet dangerous
t. material interests. china remains sta
tinuary. with the foreign interests in sus-
penSe: but there is room yet for further
diplomacy for ;he application OF pressure
Of d moral and political rather than phys
ical nature This pressure may fail Chi
na may have determined 20 resist the for
eign demands 10 the last, and may hope to
gain time now by haIting at one of the
foreign requirements while perhaps pre-
pairing for an organized stand later. This
j. he suspicion of some observers.
Even if this be So there is reason yet for
orderly procedure for the formulation of
further demands and the presentation of an
ultimatum to the court. Ii is only right TO
give China the fun latitude in this case
that is given to other international Offend
erS The Waldersee expedition would be
deliberate act of war upon state with
which the powers are now in negotis ton.
There have already been violations OF the
strict neutrality which The situation theO-
reticalIy demanded, but these might be ex-
cused on a pinch on the plea that they
were occasioned by the unsettled condition
of the district around the former capital.
A formidable expedition such as that which
Gen Chaffee has been invited 10 join would
constitute 4 violation Of the implied pledge
of the powers to abstain from war long
a the negotiations were pending. The
United States can have no place in such an
enterprise, and Il Is reassuring to find the
State Department freely expressing its dis
pleasure at the turn Of affairs.