The sun., 1900-10-19
PROPOSALS BY CHINA
COMMUNICATED 70
STATE DEPARTMENT
Advanced by Prince Ching and
Ii Hung Chang as Basis
for Settlement,
MAY REFER TO FRENCH NOTE
Reas IN to Believe That Our Govern
ment Will Act FavorabIy on
Suggestion of France Rel
ative to Beginning
Peace Negotiations.

Washington, Oct. 1S.-For the first
time in three days Minister Conger was
heard from ut the state department. He
communicated by cable the substance of
certain propositions advanced by Prince
Ching and Ii Hung Chang as basis
for the conducting of negotiations for a
settlement of the Chinese trouble. The
Chinese government already has prepar-
cd the way for these by preliminary
action looking toward the punishment of
Chinese officials guilty of completely i'll
the Boxer uprising, and, while the text
of Mr.. Congcr's communication is not
made public, il is believed that the last
Chinese advice is addressed to some of
the propositions contained in the French
note. being in the nature of counter pro-
posals and proceeding upon the theory
that what has been done in the matter
of punishments is sufficient to meet the
demands from the powers in that re-
spect.
Minister WI called at the state depart
ment by appointment and had a long
conference with Secretary Hay. The
secretary previously had spent an hour
with the president Mt the White House,
presumably in the consideration of Mr..
Conger's communication, and it is be-
lieyed that Minister Wu was called to
the department to throw light upon some
of the detailed propositions.
There is reason to believe that the gov
ernment will take favorable action on
the latest proposition of the French gov
ernment presented through the French
charge d'affaires, NJ. Thiebaut. This
contemplates the opening of peace nego-
tiations on those points which the pow
ers are agreed upon, leaving to the min
listers at Peking the details of working
out further agreement on those points
which the powers made reservations
upon. The basis of the negotiations
would be the French note delivered on
Oct. 4, together with the replies Of the
other powers.
Two Negotiations.
This would make practically two nego
tlations going on at the same time-one
concerning the points of agreement
winch would have to be adjusted with
China, and the other by the ministers al
Peking, with view to securing an agree
mcnt previous to submitting it to China
There is felt 10 be no inconsistency in
having this double work proceed concur.
rcntly, and it has the advantage of get.
ting the peace negotiations actually un
der way
In case of a favorable reply to France
il is probable that steps would have to be
taken to designate plenipotentiaries foi
the powers, for up to this time Mr.. Con
ger is acting only as minister and Mr.
Rockhill as commissioner to make inqui
res, and there is no authorization to ei
ther of them to conduct peace neEotia
tions. Whether special plenipotentiaries
would be named or additional powers
would be given to Mr.. Conger or Mr.
Rockhill is still undecided. About the
most serious obstacle which stands in the
way of immediate peace negotiations is
the absence of the imperial family from
Peking and the doubt this creates as tc
full approval being given to the work OF
the Chinese plenipotentiaries.
While the latter claim to have full ere
dentials, vet the powers have looked upor
the presence of the emperor at Peking as
an almost indispensable requisite toward
giving the negotiations complete efficacy
In this connection the presence of the
emperor might have a significance con
siderably beyond anything thus fai
brought out in the way Of firmly re-es
tablishing his imperial authority and free
ing it from the intrigues and antiforeigl
influences which have for the last two
years practically nullitied his rule.