Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-19
AFFAIRS IN THE EAST
Little Probability of United
States Being Involved.
TO LEAVE THE CITY
PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY OF
STATE GOING AWAY.
Fact Regarded as Indicating That
There is No Cause for Concern Re-
garding Oriental Developments.

Secretary Hay made arrangements for
leaving Washington this afternoon to join
his family at his summer home at New
bury, on Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire.
This plan Is In accordance with arrange
ments made early in the summer. which
were interrupted by President Roosevelt s
return to Washington several weeks ago.
which made 1t necessary for Mr.. Hay to be
In Washington to take up and dispose OF
certain matters Of interest pending at the
time.
Mr.. Hay will probably remain In New
Hampshire until October should nothing
Of Importance arise to recall him to Wash
inRton.
First Assistant Secretary Loomis is in
Maine on his summer vacation. and the
duties of the Secretary of State WILL there
fore, fall upon Assistant Secretary Adee.
Regarded as Significant.
The fact that both the President and Mr..
Hay feel that they can be away from
Washington at this time makes 1t appear
certain that neither of them entertains the
slightest belief that the United States can
in any manner at this time be drawn into
the trouble in the far east growing out of
the seizure of vessels in Chinese waters by
the Japanese ships of war.
The presence of American warshipS in
far eastern waters Is admittedly for the
sole protection of Americans and their in
tereSts. but 1t Is now admitted that the
fleet now assembled there is so formidable
as to be Of great value in a general melee
Or to enforce a demand of the United
States government. 1t is pointed out that
while there are quite number OF United
States ships in far eastern waters. their
strength lies in their numbers rather than
in the fact that they are in any sense par
ticularly formidable.
Warships at Shanghai.
Rear Admiral Sterling has nine warships
at Shanghai and no orders for action by
him are contemplated. He WILL of course.
look out for American interests. but no
directions in regard to his action should
Japanese Nwarships attempt to capture the
Russian ship at Shanghai will be sent him.
In such an event. being on the ground anu
knowing the condition. he would act as he
thought best.
Admiral Sterling his for some time been
under direct orders from the Navy Depart
ment to hold himself entirely aloof from
any of the entanglements between Russia.
China and Japan, except so far as the IN
terests of the United States are concerned.
The American squadron now at Shanghai
Is composed of the battle ships Wisconsin.
the flagship of Admiral Sterling. and the
Oregon, the monitor Monadnock, the gun
boat vilalobos and the torpedo boats De-
catur. cambridge, Barry, Dale. and Chaun-
cey.
The Callao Is at Macao, the Elcano at
Hankow, the Helena at Canton, the Raj
eign at Chemulpo and the Cincinnati and
Frolic at Chefoo. Six warships of other
neutral nations are at Shanghai.
1t was said at the State Department to-
day, unofficially. that no surprise would be
felt if Russia, following the course of ia
pan, should lay her side of the case con-
corning the question of neutrality before
the United States government, as did Min
lister Takahira.
This it Is believed would be done in an
effort to draw the. United States into the
controversy as mediator.
The Foreign View.
1t looks more than probable that the part
taken by the United States at the begin
ming of the hostiities in securing assur-
ances from the belligerents that they would
respect the neutrality of China has been
interpreted abroad to the effect that the
United States not only bound itself to see
that both Russia and Japan adhered to the
conditions, but that the United States would
see to it that China would also keep faith.
However, as stated at the outset, the
United States is not to be drawn into the
controversy as long as 1t can honorably
keep hands off, and the American fleet in
Chinese waters will have nothing to do
except to look out for American interests.
The departure of both the President and
the Secretary of State is pointed to as being
a sure indica ton that those people who fear
that the United States will be involved in
the controversy have no Immediate cause
for alarm, for in that case both the Presi-
dent and Secretary of State would remain
at the capital to direct matters and to be
in touch with the situation.
OF course both will be kept informed at
all times while they are away from the city.