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Show 'powers discuss withdrawal FROM PEKIN. .. .... ' Washington! Aug. 29. The- longest cabinet session held in years adjourned at 5:30 o'clock this evening after having hav-ing been in session, with the exception excep-tion of an hour's recess, since 10 o'clock in the morning.' The session was devoted de-voted to the consideration of the diplomatic dip-lomatic problems which have arisen in connection with the Chinese situation as a result of the position taken by the powers and eventuating in the formation forma-tion of a document for transmission abroad. That this document is of su- preme importance in defining the po-' po-' sition of the United States is assumed ! from the prolonged and careful atten- tion with which It was prepared and j considered, but not a glimmer of light I is shed upon its exact character, j All efforts to ascertain whether It is In the nature of a reply to Germany or Russia or collective note outlining the policy of the United States under the new conditions which have developed devel-oped since the relief of the legations were futile. The members of the cabinet cabi-net pointed out the impropriety of divulging di-vulging the nature of a diplomatic document before it has reached the power or parties to whom it is addressed. ad-dressed. One cabinet officer, however, expressed the opinion that it would reach the public in a few days. All manner of speculation is being indulged indulg-ed in as to its purport and contents, j but it is safe to say the secret will be carefully guarded until the government govern-ment considers It proper to divulge it. Secretary Adee, w ho is an expert in the phraseology of diplomacy, was present throughout the session of the cabinet and gave what assistance he could In the absence of Secretary of State Hay. The St. Petersburg dispatch to London Lon-don containing the assertion that Russia Rus-sia almost immediately will notify the powers that she considers the relief of Pekin legations as the final accomplishment accom-plishment of the military task of the allied forces, it was learned late tonight, to-night, is the phase of the Chinese situation sit-uation which is attracting the most attention at-tention from this government at the time. This assertion inferentially carries car-ries with it the impression that the Russian government is of the opinion that the legations had been relieved, that government should withdraw its military forces from Pekin and thinks the other allies should do likewise. No official information along .these lines, however, can be obtained here, although al-though the recent flying visit of the Russian charge. Mr. Up Wollant, from Cape May to Washington is believed to be indicative that a communication of this character has been received from the Russian government. The withdrawal of the military forces of Pekin is a phase of the Chinese sit-uaition sit-uaition to which our government has 1 not yet given no serious consideration, believing the duty of the allies is to reach some common ground of understanding under-standing with a view of opening negotiations nego-tiations for the settlement of terms of peace with China. The withdrawal of the military, it is held, might be very properly p.. subject sub-ject of after consideration. The show of some authority of power in China to conduct peace negotiations, and the recognition of international obligations, it is insisted, must be the first step toward the adjustment of Chinese affairs. af-fairs. The Russian proposition of the character reported from London would not, therefore, it is believed, be favorably favor-ably looked upon by this government. As a result of the cabinet meeting of today a reply outlining tnis government's govern-ment's attitude in this matter was drafted at the state department and sent to the American ambassador to St. Petersburg and a copy furnished to the Russion charge in this country. . One of the best informed members of the diplomatic corps, who is actively engaged In the present negotiations, today summed uo the ; international complications substantially as follows: "The powers were in complete accord up to the time of the taking of Pekin. ; But with that accomplished, the more important question arose as to the fu-I fu-I ture course of the powers in dealing with China, and on that there Is not as yet any complete accord. Thus far it seems plain that the United States opposes op-poses the dismemberment of China or any move toward territorial extension there, and in this position Russia and France seem to agree. On the other hand, while there is nothing definite indicating territorial expansion, ytet the exchanges have led to the belief that Germany. Great Britain and probably Japan are not averse to a course which will bring about territorial divisions within the empire. "It was supposed Japan stood against I any division of the empire, but the landing of Japanese troops at Amoy cannot be accepted on the ground that a Japanese temple has been burned, so that it is the accepted ac-cepted view that Japan is at least making ready to be in a position to share in any division of territory I which must come. The course of Russia Rus-sia in taking New Chwang cannot be viewed in the same light as the landing land-ing of troops at Amoy or Shanghai, as this was for the sole purpose of protecting pro-tecting Russia's railway line and any ulterior territorial purposes have been disclaimed by Russia. "So far as Great Britain's purposes are concerned, in the absence of any express declaration, the landing of Shanghai is strong evidence that Great Britain wishes to control the Yang Tse valley, which is the" garden of China. On the part of Germany, the doubt as to her luture course is due mainly to Count Waldersee's speech since the taking of Pekin. This has indicated that he is going on an extensive, campaign cam-paign and that the fall of the Chinese capital was only to be the Initial step in a comprehensive programme, requiring requir-ing the presence of a large army. Just what this means is not clear, but It ha3 at least created much surprise in Washington and some other capitals. ''The differences over Li Hung Chang's credentials are three-fold. One view, including that of the United States that the credentials are acceptable, accepta-ble, another that they have never been shown to carry complete authority, while the third view is that the original orig-inal credentials were valid at the time given but have since become invalid through the flight of the emperor and the empress dowager and the complete collapse of the Chinese government. The question of credentials dpes not seem so difficult to deal with and will probably be solved to the satisfaction of all concerned, but it is not clear thus far that the powers can be brought into complete accord on a general policy pol-icy for the. future of China. Each appears ap-pears to be waiting for the -other- to act and on the part of some there is a traditional tra-ditional disinclination to go Into the outlining of policies." Most of the objects had in view by the president when he made answer to the Chinese government's appeal and began the campaign upon Pekin have been achieved. Two others remain to be secured, namely, the safeguarding of American interests for the future and some proper guarantee for indemnification in-demnification for the expenses of recent re-cent operations and losses of American Ameri-can citizens. -' If a joint plan of action cannot be agreed upon, the question to be determined deter-mined is whether or not the United States shall proceed further, hand in hand with the allied forces. It is believed be-lieved that this point is very near a decision, the government's determination determina-tion depending upon the responses made by European nations', to our Vi- quiries. The suggestion that a conference confer-ence be held of the nations represented in China is again revived as an accom-! accom-! paniment of this purpose, and it is pointed out that with Special Commissioner Commis-sioner Rockhill just about arriving on Chinese soil; with Mumm -l von Schwartzenstein, the German successor success-or to Baron von Ketteler, already in China; with the ministers resident at Peking and with the high military and naval officials in the Pel Ho valley, the material is already at hand for the cratbering of a conference fully .. i : ' 0 equipped to deal with even so complex and difficult a problem as is presented in the settlement of China's future. There are hopes that communication with China, very much delayed of late, will be better soon. Consul Fowler at Che Foo, got a routine dispatch through today, of current date, and the navy department has been informed inform-ed that the cable company's ship was about to leave Shanghai today to lay a direct cable connecting Shanghai with Che Foo. one of the weakest links in the chain of communication at present. pres-ent. These improved conditions as to the opening of communication between military and naval commanders and the authorities here have made possible pos-sible for the latter to abandon the purpose, conceived yesterday, of employing em-ploying naval vessels to convey by water messages between Shanghai and Che Foo. The attitude of Germany was the subject of much official discussion during dur-ing the day and considerable new light was thrown upon it. Early in the day the German charge d'affaires, Baron Speck von Sternberg, had a long conference con-ference with Acting Secretary Adee. It' is understood that any question which may have arisen as to the fu- ture course of Germany, is met by a reference to an official note by Count von.Bueiovr, Cerman minister of foreign for-eign affairs, issued on July 12, which fully defined Germany's purpose in j China. This note of the German chancellor chan-cellor followed within ten days of Sec- ! retary Hay's note to the powers on July 3. and is somewhat analagous in setting forth Germany's intentions. Count von Buelow's note said: "Our aim is the restoration of security secur-ity for persons and property, freedom of action for German subjects in China, the rescue of the foreigners beleaguered be-leaguered in Pekin. the re-establishment of security and regular conditions condi-tions under a proper organized Chinese Chi-nese government and reparation and satisfaction for the outrages committed. commit-ted. We desire no partition of China and seek no special advantages. The imperial government is imbued with the conviction that the maintenance of the agreement between the powers is a primary condition for the restoration of peace and order in China." |