The Portland daily press., 1900-09-21
Effort To Be Made To
Clear All Up.
No Modification of Russian
Proposition.

Washington, September 2O.-It now ap-
pears that Russia has put forth this pro-
position for the punishment OF the lead
ers of the Chinese uprising. This was in
paper Offering a general programme
for conducting the peace negotiations.
The tIrst item of the programme was
the punishment of the Chinese offenders.
The proposal came some time prior to
the German note and seems to have
been concurred in by France and some
Of the other powers, although 1t did not
receive such general concurrence as to
amount to an agreement. The German
note now takes up this first item of the
Russian programme and makes it an in
d1spensable prerequisite to any negoti
ations. 1t materially differs from the
Russian proposal in that the latter made
punishment part OF the negotiations,
while the German proposition now pend
Ing is to make the punishment precede
the negotiations. The reported transfer
of Sir Claude Mcdonald, the British
minister at Pekin fron that post to
Toxic, is regarded as significant In some
diplomatic quarters. Those familiar
with the two posts say Toxic has less
rank than Pek1n and that the pay of
the minister is less. The transfer Is
thought to be due to the strain the Brit
1sh minister was under during the siege,
but it also has the effect of removing one
OF the most prominent figures in the
current negotiations and the one who is
understood to have been foremost in urg-
ing severe measures against China.
The status of the Chinese situation at
the close of the day according to a high
authority is as follows:
There are now before the depart
ment Of state a number of notes await
ing answer. These include the German
note concerning the surrender of Chi
nese ringIeaders; the original Russian
proposition for the withdrawal of troops
from Pekin. which has not yet been act
ed upon as a hnal1ty; memorandum
from the Russian government asking as
to the purpose of this government, and
a request by Prince Ching that in
zbructions be sent to Minister Conger to
proceed with peace negotiations at once.
In addition there is a verbal inquiry
from the French government as to the
programme Of the United States.
These various communications have ac-
cunuIated slowly and an understanding
has now been reached by the adminlstra-
ton that there shall be a general clear
ance of the subject.
This may be expected either late to-
morrow or early the following day. It
will clearly enunciate the programme of
the United States on the various ques-
tfons presented.
There will be separate notes according
to the character of the communications
addressed to this governments; that is,
the recent German note will be answered
by a note and the memorandum of In |
ouiry from Russia will be answered by
a memorandum, while the French ver-
bal inquiry win receive a verbal response.
AS to the contents of these several COM
the authorities are not will
ing to give any positive 1ntimations,
though as far as the German note is con-
eerned, the belief is almost general here
that the response of our government Will
amount to decIination to make the
of the offending Chinese a
condition precedent to negotiations OF
,ny kind. Concerning the Russian prop
,sition for withdrawal, it is stated offic-
ALLY that it stands today the same as
1rst presented, there having been no
whatever on the part OF
Russia uD to the present time.
~ yNVw