The attitude of the United States in China has become
almost unintelligible. The Government, according to the usual exponents of its views, is unwilling to quit the Concert, but considers that' the terms demanded by that Concert are preposterous. Indeed, it is by no means satisfied .that they are not intended to be rejected, and so to afford an excuse to Germany, and possibly to Great Britain, for seizing provinces. Washington even objects to the indemnity, declaring that China cannot pay it, and suspecting that it is only asked for in order that: territory may be offered in exchange. The American statesmen would, it appears, leave the Government of China to punish the authors of the outrages, ask an almost nominal indemnity, and then as far as possible restore the status quo, especially not asking any demolition. of forts, or fortified resi- dences for the Legations. It is possible that some of these views are exaggerated in repetition, but it seems certain that a deep suspicion of Germany prevails in America, that the conduct of the German troops in Chili-li has greatly wounded American feeling, and that the Executive would like tc retire from China in order to concentrate energy on the con- quest of the Philippines, where affairs are not going welL
