The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-20
ORDERS ONR. 0|)N|ER
INSTRUCTIONS ARE CABLED TO
THE UNITED STATES MIN
ISTER AT PEKIN
OBJECT TO HOSTILE PLANS
PUNITIVE EXPEDITIONS AT THIS
TIME PRODUCTIVE OF MORE
HARM THAN GOOD
BRITAIN IS IN SYMPATHY
King Edwards Government No More
Than the United States FavOrs
Raids Into the Interior
of China.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Minister
Conger has been instructed bv cable 10
communicate to the foreign ministers at
Pekln the feeling of the United States
government that further hostile expedi-
tlons should not be indulged in at this
time
This action was taken by the state
department after the cabinet discussion
had developed the attitude of the ad-
mlniStration. 1t is understood that this
course was regarded best since it left
room for another appeal to the powers
directly through their foreign offices. in
case Minister Conger's efforts are futile
The state department officials decline to
make public the text of the note. How
ever, it was said to be in perfect accord
with the policy already developed and TO
make manifest the deep conviction of
the United States government that these
proposed hostile propositions are in vio-
lation of the rights of individual par
ties to the peace negotiations because
tending to bring about the fall
ure of these negotiations. If the
threat of military expeditions is
based upon desire to force the
Chinese ENJOYS to speedier action upon
the ministerial proposals, then it must
De stated that our government diSap-
proves, feeling that it has not yet been
demonstrated sufficiently that the Chinese
government is not acting to the best Of
its ability.
QUESTION OF PENALTY.
Regarding the insistence of the foreign
ministers upon the imposition of the
death penalty upon the whole list of
prescribed Chinese officials, it is re-
called that the Chinese agreed to admin
ister the severest possible punishment
and it is conceived here that it may be
entirely impossible for that government
to go to the length demanded by the min
listers in Pekin, but it will be Mr. Con-
gers duty to refresh their recollections
as to the engagements their governments
entered into with the United States, as
well as with China and he will point out
that our attitude is in exact accordance
with the outline laid down in the formal
notes preceding the beginning of the
negotiations. The United States govern
ment will continue to deal with the other
powers through their diplomatic agen-
cies, ignoring the suggestion that the
ministers at Pekin have no control over
the military forces stationed there; and
carrying out the same theory Gen Chat
fee will act in thorough harmony with
any suggestions made by Mr.. Conger.
CHINA AND NICARAGUA.
LONDON, Feb 19.-United States Am
basSadOr Choate saw the secretary Of
state for foreign affairs, the Marquis OF
Lansdowne, this afternoon and discussed
the Chinese question and the Nicaragua
canal matter. Mr.. Choate was inform
ed that both these features would be
fully discussed at a cabinet meeting to be
hold TN11N T
to be able to communicate to Mr. Choate
something definite Immediately after the
meeting.
Lord Lansdownes notification to NIr.
Choate may safely be taken as an indica-
ton that the British government does
not intend to force the China and Mama
qua incidents to an issue any earlier
than possible. 1t is said the United
States ambassador was responsible for
bringing up the Nicara qua matter, point
ing out how short a time remained for
an answer before the lapsing of the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty. The reply OF
Lord Lansdowne did not by any means
positively pledge the British cabinet to
rake a decision, although it indicated
that the United States might expect that
so far as the Niearaguan question was
concerned any further consideration on
the part of the cabinet would be mere
ly formal, as the foreign office has
known the nature of the reply for some
weeks which will not vary from the
forecast made in these dispatches.
LONDON IN THE DARK.
China, however, is another matter.
The foreign office appears genuinely in the
dark as to the real significance of Count
Won Waldersees latest orders. 1t was
hoped that by Friday information will be
forthcoming to enable Great Britain to
decide as to what is really going on in
the far East. At present she is not
more anxious than the United States TO
take part in an extended campaign into
the interior of China but the reports Of
the proposed action are so contradictory
that Lord Lansdowne refrains from send
ing mandatory dispatches or committing
himself to any definite line of interna-
tiCnal action. The American opposition
to Count Won Waldersee's reported ac-
ton receives cordial sympathy from
British authorities, although they doubt
whether the right construction is placed
upon his motives. Lord Salisbury has
so often put England on record as op-
posed to aggressive military operations
in China that officials here can scarcely
conceive that Count Won Waldersee would
issue orders so utterly at variance with
the intentions of Great Britain and the
United States.
DISCLAIMER FROM BERLIN.
BERLIN, Feb. 19.-The National Zei-
tung and other inspired papers assert
that Field Marshal Count Won Waldersee
has no intention of embarking on a
large expedition into the interior of Chi
ma; but they say that the Chinese will
find strong forces to act if they continue
to procrastinate. Won Waldersee's
sphere of action, it is pointed out, is lin
itsd to the province of Chi Lii.
IT is understood that United States Am
bassador White made representations to-
Gay to the foreign office, regarding the
reported expedition of Count Won Waldar-
see into the interior of China and the
foreign office gave him reassuring re-
plies 1t is understood the foreign Of
flee told Mr.. White that such expeditions
ere designed chiefly to convince the
Chinese government that the powers
would not be trified with.
This view of the case is expressed. gen.
orally by the German press.
SITUATION AT PEKIN.
PEKIN, Feb 19.-Prince Ching and Ii
Hung Chang have received a telegram
which virtually means that the Chinese
will comply with all the demands of the