American Protest Against Withdrawal of Their Troops: A
Striking Letter The American Chamber of Commerce in Tientsin, at a meeting held last week, resolved to protest to Congress against the withdrawal of the American troops from Tientsin, and it was resolved to ask for the cooperation of other American Chambers throughout China in! such protest. 7 In the course of the proceedings! of the Chamber the following striking letter was read from Mr. R. H. Maclay, an American resident of Tientsin Tientgin, Mar. 20.
Gentlemen,—I have been greatly startled at hearing that cur Government proposes to withdraw the! American troops from Tientsin and Peking. Our Government has of course taken this step in deference to the wave of economy which is now sweeping over the world, and manifestly does not yet realize the seriousness of the position at_ present rapidly developing in China, but no one is terrified. The whole nation is in process of disintegration and there is no real authority anywhere.
Even the Generals are likely to be shot any day by their soldiers should they venture to issue orders distasteful to their soldiery; such as risking their lives to protect foreigners.
Their preferences would be entirely for looting and murdering foreigners, for foreigners unfortunately have the reputation among the masses of being possessed of immense wealth, and foreign Concessions would therefore be specially singled out for attack.
Under these grave circumstances, I deem it of the utmost importance that the Chamber should take early action to avert the proposed withdrawal of the American troops from Tientsin and Peking unti) the permanent establishment in China of something that can truthfully be designated a Government.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.