Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-02-22
III WILL not 90
Chaffee Is Not to Join the Ger.
man Expedition.
THE GOVERNMENT FACES A CRISIS
State Department May Try to DIssuade Berlin
Authorities From Undertaking This Cam.
paisn-Chincse Are to Blame.

Washington, Feb. 20.-The United
States government is facing serious
crisis in China, owing to the announce
ment of the purpose Of Field Marshal
Count Won Waldersee to begin anoth-
or offensive campaign. General Chat
lee has been invited to join in the ex-
pedition, which is to be mobilized on a
larger scale than anything attempted
in China since the allied army began
the march to Pekin. The general 30
informed the war department. today.
and the officials of the state depart
ment have been advised of the situa.
tion.
This German movement is viewed
with absolute dismay here, for it is
feared that it requires an immediate
decision BY the United States govern
ment of its whole line Of policy toward
the Chinese question. General Chaffee
will be told that he is not to partici-
pate in this campaign. He has been
keeping the American forces in Pekin
ever since the city was pacifed, simply
as legation guard, and the German
government is fully aware that the
United States government purposely
deprived the American contingent in
China of its offensive military char
acter and withdrew it from the control
of General Won Waldersee in order to
hasten peace negotiations and prevent,
so far as it conld, the continuance of
military movements against the Chi
nese, which were baneful in their
effect upon the peacs movement. So
our government. not having changed
its policy, cannot do otherwise than TO
cause General Chaffee to refrain from
any participation in military move
ments so long as the present peaceful
conditions continue.
But another very serious point under
consideration is, not whether Chaffee
shall join the German movement, but
whether it is not the duty of our gov.
ernment to exercise all proper efforts
to dissuade the German government
from undertaking this campaign.
The Chinese government is unfortu-
nately delaying the peace negotiations
in an exasperatin. fashion, and is not
responding in proper spirit to the effort
of the United States government.
Word has just come from Minister
Conger which confirms the press ad-
vices relative to the Chinese declina-
tlon to accede to the demands Of the
ministers in the matter of capital pun
ishment of the leaders implicated in
the Boxer movement. Mr.. Conger's
message gave it to be understood that
the Chinese government had agreed to
exile Prince Tuan and Lam without
capital sentences; to recommend sui
eide to Prince Cnwang; death for Yu
Hsien and Chao Chi Chao; imprison-
ment and degradation from Office for
Chi Haul and Hsu Cheng Yu. 1t is
said an edict has already been issued
to execute these sentences.
A visit from the Japanese minister
to the state department served to give
color to the story that our government
is casting about to ascertain how far
the other powers party to the Chinese
question would indorse this proposed
campaign. 1t is impossible to secure
exact information on the subject. The
whole subject, it is said. is to come be-,
fore the cabinet meeting tomorrow,
when the course to be pursued by the
United States government will be de-
termined.
1t is said unequivocally by competent
authority that the American military
foi ces under no circumstances will
participate with the Germans in the
proposed expedition, and, although it
cannot be learned that General Chaffee
has yet received instructions to that
effect, he undoubtedly will have threm
very shortly. The United States gov
ernment stands steadfastly by the prin-
ciples laid down in Secretary Hays
letter of July last.