The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-21
PARTITION OF CHINA.
Americans Positive That Allied
Powers Desire Such Action.

New York, Nov. 21.-Government Of
fcials, says a Times dispatch from
Washington, no longer make any at
tempt 10 conceal their disbelief in the
sincerity of the protestations made by
the powers that they do not contemplate
the partition of China. The speech of
Count Won Buelow illustrates well the
attitude of the powers. He said in the
course of it:
1T is impossible to foresee further de-
veiopments We shall not allow our
selves to be led beyond these demands,
except by the interests of civilization
and especially by the interests of Ger
many
These words are paraphrased as fol-
lows by an administration official:
This is all we want at present we
shall not make any further demands
unless we feel like it."
Although Count Won BuelOw asserted
that the demands he reported had been
made by unanimous agreement, lit was
not believed that the United States rep
resentative has assented to them MI
C!onger has reported from time to time
the various propositions under consider
alton but he has not yet indicated that
anything in the nature of an agreement
has been reached upon which the pow
ers might act and which is to serve as
basis of negotiation with the Chinese
authorities
The great danger hangs about the
I
to the state department further infor
nation about the swelling of the ex-
pense bill. Germany has now figured her
military expenses at S50,00O,000 This
does not include q single claim for dam
ages; il is nothing but the cost of send
ing troops to China and burning pow
der.
The United States has not yet reached
the point of setting a figure beyond
which demands would be regarded as
excessive. 1t is actively at work trying
to reach such a figure. The United
States desire to make the indemnity the
very utmost that China can pay, but no
more. The American feeling is that Chi
ma has slnned so grievously that she
must suffer tremendous penalty one
of the officers OF the administration
lately in describing the American atti-
tude recalled Bismarck's declaration at
ter the Franco-German war, that he
would bleed France pale" But, he ad-
ded, Bismarck stopped there. He did
not try to kill her. He demanded fve
billion francs But he did not demand
fifty billion francs.s.
That il the difference between the at
titude Of America and that of the Eur
opean powers.
The administration according to a dis
patch from Washington to the Journal
of Commerce. is endeavoring to secure
important notifications in several of the
propositions which have the support Of
some of the ministers at Pekin and 9TH
ers which have been suggested there.
oppose the provision suggested by the
protocol that an article be inserted bind
ing the Chinese government to the pro-
vision of the existing treaties of corr
merce. The objection of the United
States is based upon the fact that such
O revision would mean separate terms
to each power, special concessions to
those which intrigued most successfully
at the Chinese court and probable secre-
cy regarding some of these concessions.
The United States desire nothing in
the way of general commercial privi-
leges which is not granted to every ott--
er power. They are opposed to the sep
arate revision Of the treaties, however,
not only upon the direct ground Of
American interest IN the negotiations,
but because of the complications which
would be likely to follow separate ar
In the opinion of some of the leading
officials of the state department such
arrangements would only open the way
for keeping the Chinese question con-
stantly in an acute state and would
throw a serious pail of anxiety over the
peace and commerce OF the world.
According to the highest official auth
ority, says a Herald special from Wash
ington, events are hurrying the United
States to point where, in the interests
of humanity and a satisfactory solution
of the Chinese question, It must with
draw from the concert of nations
1t is not intended by the administra-
ton to be hasty in adopting such a
course Fair warning will be given to
the powers and If they still persist in
policy calculated to drive China to des-
peratfon the only thing left for the ad-
mfnistration will be to enter into indie
pendent negotiations with the imperial
government. Such a course would un-
doubtedly be followed by Russia and
France, but the action of Great Britain,
Germany and japan is problematical,
because of their recent agreement.
The pessimistic view of the situation
which exists in official circles followed
the receipt Of information by the state
department as to the attitude of Ger
with the punishment OF the boxer lead
ers.