The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-10-23
.CONGER INSTRUCTED.
First Meeting of the Plenipotentiar-
les Will Relate to Credentials.
Following This WIFE Come the Des-
ignatiOn of Peace COmmissiOners
to Conduct the Negotiations of
the Formal Treaty.

Washington, Oct. 22.-NOthing came
to the state department Sunday from
Minister Conger in regard to the pro-
posed preliminary meeting for the
consideration of peace negotiations
asked for by Ii Hung Chang and
Prince Ching for October 20. The
presumption of the officials, there
fore, is that the press dispatches an
nouncing that it had been postponed
is correct. This postPonement was
due probably to the unreadiness OF
the powers generally to begin nego-
tiations, the ministers in all likeli-
hood not having received their final
preliminary instructions from their
government for their guidance.
The United States minister, Mr..
Conger, is prepared to proceed with
the preliminary work, his instruc-
tions from the state department be-
ing ample to cover all questions
which it is expected will be raised at
the beginning. AS is understood here,
the initial meeting will relate mainly
to the verificatiOn of the credentials
of the Chinese plenipotentiaries Both
Ii Hung Chang and Prince Ching are
in Peking, but the two great southern
viceroys are supposed to be still in
their own provinces. Conference with
them by the Chinese now in Picking
will be largely by telegraph. Follow
ing the verifcation of credentials will
come the designation of plenipoten-
tiaripc nv this 70 conduct
the formal negotiations, but as to
their personnel the officials here are
not yet willing to make any state
ment.
Washington, Oct. 22.-The state de-
partment has received a copy of the
Anglo-German agreement regarding
China published in London. 1t was
sent to the department by Count de
Quadt, the German charge d'affaires.
who earlier in the day had received
it by telegraph from Count Won Bue-
low, the German chancellor at Berlin.
The official version is identical in
terms with that already published,
and it was communicated to our gov
eminent with only formal letter of
transmission. Count de Quadt is very
much gratifed ever the agreement
between the powers, and believes it
augurs well for the prompt beginning
of peace negotiations in China.
Nothing has yet come to our gov
eminent from the American embassy
at Berlin touching the agreement be-
tween Germany and England. The
feeling on the subject of state depart
ment officials was made known in the
press dispatches. the document giving
very general satisfaction and being
recognized as in line with the attitude
of the United States toward China as
already defined by Secretary Hay and
by other great powers.
The note issued by the British for
eign officers relating to the agreement
is in four parts as fOllws:
1. AS a matter of joint permanent
international interest, the rivers of
littOral China should remain open to
trade and to every other legitimate
form of economic activity for the ma
tionals of all countries. The two gov
ernments agree to uphold the same
for all Chinese territory so far as they
have influence.
2. The governments of Great Brit
ain and of Germany will not advan-
tage themselves of territory on ac-
count of present complications.
3. In the case of another power us
ing the complications to obtain ter
ritoral advantages under any form
whatever, England and Germany will
come to the preliminary understand
ing as to the eventual steps to be taxi
en- to protect their own interests in
China.
4. England and Germany will invite
the powers especially Austria, France.
Italy, Japan, Russia and the United
States, to accept the principles of this
agreement.
Victoria, B. c., Oct. 22.-Accordipo
to a correspondent of the Shanghai
Mercury, Bishop Fontosati in South
Honan was tortured four hours bv
Chinese. His body was dismembered
piece by piece and he was disembow-
eled. Two priests were covered with
coal oil and placed in sticks, which
were then set afire Others were
frightfully tortured. Three thousand
converts, led by French priests. while
they were defending their church
were massacred.
h