The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-30
THE QUESTIONS ON WHICH THE AL.
LIED POWERS DISAGREE.
DECLARATION OF WAR FOLLOWS
This be Done and China Refuse
this Course-Four of the Nations and
crate Proceedinxs-Mi Conger
Ordered to Forward Copy OF Agree
ment of Members Before Signing it.

washington, November 2S.-It de-
veloped today that the chief point in
the exchanges concerning China which
have been going on during the last few
days among the powers relates to the
wisdom of delivering an "uitimatum"
to China, using the express word ''ul-
timatum'' in the text of the demand to
be handed to the Chinese envoys, in
volving the possibility of a resulting
declaration of war against China in
case the demand Of the ultimatum be
not complied with. 1t appears that
some of the powers desired the express
use of the word ''ultimatum" in the
demand relative to the decapitation or
o., extreme punishment of eleven
of the princes and other high officials
responsible for the outrages, and this
view of using the most expressive term
of diplomacy seems to have found ia
vor with the ministers at Pekin.
When this became known at the sew
eral ,...:.t-Is considerable dissent be-
came manifest. About week ago ia
pan took the initiative in an appeal for
modera tion, and this received the IA
vorable consideration of the United
States, France, and Russia and prob
ably Great Britain, although a positive
statement as to Great Britain cannot
be made.
About the same time Secretary Hay
took steps to express the view OF this
government that it was inadviSable to
proceed to the extent of an ultimatum
against China, but that the demands
should not be beyond what China rea-
sonably might have the power to COM
ply with.
The unanimity of sentiment among
the powers gives grounds for the belief
that the demands of the ministers will
be modified by the omission of an ulti-
matum, although it is not yet clear
what the final attitude of the remain
ing powers Austria and
Italy-will be.
The negotiations in this particular
were carried on in London through Am
bassador Choate, and it is regarded as
significant that one of the parties to
the Anglo German alliance should give
it's adherence to the moderate position
advanced by the United States.
The state department has cabled Min
lister Conger to forward the text of the
agreement, reached by the foreign min
listers at Pekin. Meanwhile he will
withhold his signature until the presi-
| dent has had am opportunity ito salts
| fly himself as to this important docu-
| ment and to make such changes as will
bring it in accord with our policy.
1T is safe to predict that this partic-
| u1ar agreement will not become effec-
| tive in it's present shape. 1t appears
| that, upon inquiry directed TO the pow
erS themselves, their ministers at Pc
kin have not correctly reflected their
| present views as to the basis OF the
peace negotiations. This statement GER
| tiainly is true as to ma jority of the
powers interested and the fact is re-
| garded as warranting the predictio7
that the agreement must be modified o,
| abandoned.
1t is learned at the state department
| that while these negotiations are dragg-
| ing along at Pekin, some Of the Amer
| cam consuls dn China are achieving
practical and valuable results by indi
vidual efforts. Thev are addressing
themselves in cases directly to the vice
| royS Sof the great provinces whert
American property interests have suf
fered, to secure indemnity and repara
| ton, and in most cases they are sue
ceeding very well. 1t is surmised from
the latest Chinese advices that the En-
glish consuls are doing likewise, ant
are collecting many claims and tn
moneys are being turned over to tn
mission interests which suffered.
this movement continues, it is entirel,
possible that the United States ali,
Great Britain will not be obliged to con
Germ themselves with the prosecution
Of individual claims for indemnit,
through the slow moving agencies a
Pekin.