Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-11
Military affairs Appear to be ID
Hopeless Confusion.
The FRENCH NOTE ANSWERED
The Contents Withheld From Tie Public BY
the state Department Negotiations see
back by Recent Happenings, Especially
in Chile, China viecseys Have Liyod
Up to Their Promises IRRITATING Mill-s
t"ry Movements Set Up by the Allss
Against Chinese.
tBy Telegraph to yrr,n,an. pilot !, Z

tBy Telegraph to virginian- PilotJ
Washington. ID. c.. Oct, lo.--The res
ply of the United States government
to the latest note from France Offering
SUGGESTIONS as to The settlement of
the troubles in China. was completed
late to-day and delivered to Nj. THE
paut charged affairs OF the French
embassy. BY him it was forwarded
Immediately TO this Government.
NO official statement of the contents
OF the answer was obtainabIe Fol-
lowing its infleNihle rule, the State De- n
partment declined to make public the
text OF the communication or to make
any statement OF the nature of It's con,
tents, until opportunity had been AZ
Ioroed Tor its reception by the French
Foreign Office. -.-'s- = II
FORECAST OF ANSWER.
1t is believed. however, to take a
favorable view OF the suggestions sub
hNtted by the French Government i'm
y general way, although 1t does not
commit this government to all OF them.
as TO the first Of the proposed French
terms OF settlement, the punishment
oil thc principal culprits, this govern
hent has already declared itself In ur-4
mistaka BILE terms.
Ms to the second, the maintainance
OIL the inhibition against the import of
arms, this Government Will not de IS
clare itself to the point OF making 1t
an absolute prerequisite to further
ncSottations. As TO the third and
fourth propositions providing for equit-
nbie indemni,ies TO state societies and
individuals and the formation of u 4
permanent guard for the legations In
lekin. cordial assent will be giyen..S
AS to the nth. which requires the dig D.
manllement OF the Taku Qualifications,
'hi5 Government is not disposed to go
quite 10 the length OF making II an
Indispensable condition as does the
French note ss NJ
The sixth OF the French conditions
reads az follows: 80
Military occupation OF two or three
points on the road from Tien TsinS
To Pekin, which would be thus always
open TO the legations wishing to go to
the sea or 20 forces proceeding to PEI
Kin from the sea-"
TO RETAIN GARRISON.
This paragraph would seem to make
1t obligatory upon the Powers 10 MAIN
tain Garrisons at these points. and
while the conditions are such as to
make their present occupation neces-
sary for the safety of the members of
III legations and others desiring to
travel between Pekin and ten Tsln
this Government Is disposed to make
the demand as q matter of right. to be
exercised by any or all of the Powers
at Will.
NEGOTIATIONS SET BACK.
Washington. D. c.. Oct, 1O.--Recent
happenings in China and especially in
the province of Chile. have so far set
back peace negotiations that Ii may
he n matter of weeks or even months
before the peace commissioners will be
able to get TO work
Ill-considered military operations I'm
Chile and elsewhere in China said to
Irresponsible fur tnG ChUTnCter, WHICH
diplomacy has met in reaching set
Element. Through the efforts of the
State Department. seconded by the I
more moderate Powers, q steady ard {
to bear upon the Chinese emperor to
bring about his return to Pekin.
THE SITUATION.
The representations from the great
southern viceroys to the Emperor.
settling out the impossibility OF supply
ing the court with money and food if
it persisted in retreating 20 Tsinan Flu.
In Shen ST. was hut one of the means
which had been resorted TO at the in-8
stance of this government to secure
the return of the court. All efforts
were neutralized, however, by the
spasmodic and unnecessary activity OF z
the allied military forces. There was
no necessity whatever for the Pao Ting
Flu expedition. in the Judgment OF the
officials here, and that venture was the
straw which determined the imperial
court 10 flee TO the western mountaina.
ORDER PLEDGED.
l.. Hung Chang and the viceroys OF
the south have pledged themselves tn
maintain order and guarantee protee-
ton for foreigners and property In 3.
their respective provinces, This WAS
made condition precedent by the
United States Government TO the eS-
tablishment of relations With them
looking TO the initiation OF negotiations
for final settlement According to all
reports that have reached Washington
the viceroys had lived loyalty up to +
their promises. i'll spite OF irritating
military expeditions and movements of
various kinds set up against their pru-
tests, and therefore, IL is regarded as
particularly unfortunate that the allied
forces should persist now In the ex-
petition against Pao Ting Bu.
HOPELESS CONFUSION.
It is not known here whether or not
the Germans are the moving force In
this project. and contrary conclusion
is drawn from the fact that Walddrsec
il not the directing head. Each ma
tionslity appears 10 be moving at the
will of It's military commander, and
military affairs in China. as viewed N !
Washington. appear 10 beIin q hopeless
confusion In this state of affairs SAT-
isfaction IS felt in the fact that the
American troops are not in any man.
ner Involved In the activities OF the
allied forces, and It's expectcG the
movement looking to their withdrawal
will proceed uninterraptedly,