Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-29
A CHINESE PROPOSAL
It is Suggested That This Country
Act as Mediator.
MINISTER WI Is GRAfIFIED
Alignment of the Powers on Ger
many's Proposition.
THE RETURN TO PEKIN

Mr. Wu Ting-fang, the Chinese minister
today expressed his strong approval of the
suggestion by Lii Hung Chang that the
United States act as mediator for the set
lement of the entire Chinese question
The minister was much gratified at the
character of the advices from China, par
ticularly the reference of Earl Ii to his
constant communication with Mr.. WI and
the specific reference of the Chinese envoy
in favor of the United States as mediator.
The communications referred to have been
proceeding briskly of late between the min-
lister and Earl Ii the former laying before
the envoy al considerable length the con-
dition of affairs and particularly emphasiZ-
ing the desirabilty of taking action along
the lines proposed in the recent note of the
United States. Mr.. WI has from the first
urged that the United States should take
a leading part in the peace settlement. and
1t is probably due to this position that Earl
Ii now takes the advanced position In
favor of the United States as mediator.
Since the suggestion has come from such
high source, the minister expresses his
confidence of being able to secure any need
full authority or requests for an American
Initiative which may be needful.
Occupation of Territory.
In speaking of the matter today Mr.. WI
pointed out that while all the powers had
taken a position against the partition of
China, yet conditions might arise whereby
one power would deem 1t expedient to occu-
py territory. thus leading other powers to
take similar course and bringing on {,
general move toward a partition of the en-
pire. He feels 1t to be essential to prevent
such contingency, and that the United
States is in the best position to guard
against having such result come about.
Should the partition occur, the minister
feels that the open door and open
ports, which now invite the commerce of
this country. would give place to practical
closure of China. He holds, therefore, that
action by this government would not only
be in the interest of China and all con-
cerned, but particularly in the United
States own interest and for the preserva-
tion and safeguarding Of our avenues OF
trade in the orient 1t should be under
stood however, that this view of Earl Lii
and Minister WI, in favor of American me-
diation, is in no way inspired by the desires
OF this government, but is due entirely to
their own ideas of how the situation should
be dealt with
Return of Imperial Government
The minister's dispatches to Earl Lii have
largely been directed toward assisting in
carrying forward the negotiations on the
lines laid down in the American note AS
to that feature of the American note refer
ring TO the return of the imperial Chinese
government to Pekin. Mr.. WI saws il is a
difficult undertaking so long as there Il, an
armed force at Pekin. II might be met. he
says. by reducing the several forces as the
American force has been reduced but even
then the aggregate force would be so large
that the imperial establishments would no.
feel warranted in returning. The minister
says that under the circumstances assur-
ance from the powers that the imperial
government would be protected would prob
ably be the most effective means of bring
ing about a re-estabishment of Chinese ad-
ministration at Pekin.
Punishment of the Guilty.
Minister WI has been informed that the
vfceroys OF China, including Ii Hung
Chang, and the viceroys of Nankin, WI
Chang and the other southern and central
provinces. have united in a memorial to the
throne asking that the people responsible
for the recent uprising be punished The
minister has not yet received the text of
the memorial and does not know whether
1t designates by name those who should
be punished. 1t Is accepted, however as
a strong evidence of the position of the
most influential rulers in China for the
punishment of those concerned in the pres
ent troubles.
Alignment on German Proposition.
The alignment of the powers. on the Ger
man proposition to make the punishment of
the Chinese ringleaders a condition prece-
dent to negotiations may now be stated as
follows:
Great Britain. Russia and France stand
with the United States, regarding that prop
osition as inexpedient.
Japan occupies a middle attitude. She Is
willing to follow the German lead if all the
other powers are agreeable but only for the
sake of preserving harmony among the
powers, and not from belief in the wis
dom of the German proposition
Austria and Italy stand shoulder TO shoul-
der with Germany, making the drebund a
solid front The first named two powers dc
not attempt to argue the German PROPOSE
ton, and their answers make IL apparent
that they have accepted 1t without much
consideration.
The New Proposition.
Nothing is known here officially of the
alternative proposition which is reported to
be preparing in Europe. If 1t contains the
same feature as to prior punishment as the
original proposition, 1t is not likely to re-
ceive approval here. The fact that Secre-
tary Hay IS expected to return TO Wash
ington next week will not change in any
way the policy of the State Department
The Secretary has been in the closest sym
pathetic touch with all that has been done
respecting China. and the stories print ed
In Germany to the effect that he is coming
back to reverse those policies are pro-
noInced at the State Department to be alb
surd. The officials are impressed, and have
been from the beginning, with the convic-
ton that any attempt made at this stage to
punish Prince Tuan before negotiations are
undertaken will absolutely defeat all ef-
forts to obtain peaceable and satisfactory
settlement. Indeed 1t is believed that the
attempt of Germany to apprehend such
Chinese officials at this stage has actually
been the cause of Prince Tuan's promotion
rather than anything contained in the
American refusal Of the German PROPOSE
uon. 1t is pointed out that an inevitable
result of such an effort would be to cause
the Chinese officials against whom 1t was
directed TO strive by every means in theil
power to secure the support of the throne
just as Tuan has In this case
Advices From MIR. Conger.
Mr.. Conger was heard from i'm a briet
cablegram today. This was not published
but II is understood to Indicate no impor.
tant developments.
MASSACRED BY CHINESE.