The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-30
Willing that the Demands Of the
Powers He Construed I'm Line with
suggestions of the Chinese.
WALDERSEE'S PLAN UNWISE
THIS GOVERNMENT NOT In FAVOR
OF HARAssING THE NATIVES.
Lii Hung Chang So HI He May Not DE
Able to Act as Commissioners
Sir Robert Harris Views.

WASHINGTON, Dec 29.-It is recognized
by the officials here as a perfectly natural
course on the part of the Chinese govern
ment to ask for explanations of the i'm
portant points in the agreement reached by
the ministers at Peking. So they are not
surprised to hear now that before blindly
accepting the agreement as binding upon
IL. the Chinese court wishes for some def
mite statement as to what Chinese cities
are to be occupied, how long the occupa-
ton is to continue, whether 1t is an abso-
lutte condition that the princes are to be be-
headed, and whether the Taku forts are to
be razed, or whether dismantlement will
not suffice. The questions asked are: First,
might not the Taku forts remain standing.
though dismantled? Second, is it proposed
to behead princes the same as other Of
tenders? Third, If the demands are acceded
TO, would the allies cease sending out ex-
petitions? Fourth, what places do the allies
propose to occupy? Fifth, how long do they
propose to occupy them?
1t is a fact that our government has,
from the beginning of the negotiations,
taken an attitude on these five points of in
quiry closely corresponding to that which
the Chinese government has assumed as a
basis of putting them Our government does
not desire the absolute demolition of the
Taku forts; 1t will suffice for our purposes,
having in mind temporary stay in China,
that they should be rendered harmless, by
dismantlement, to prevent the ready access
to the Chinese capital of any force which
it might be necessary to send from Europe
and America in the improbable event that
the Chinese government fails to live up to
the obligations it will assume under the
agreement.
OPPOSED TO OCCUPATION.
Feeling that the Chinese government
should be given suitable opportunity to
demonstrate its good faith. our government
has seen no necessity for continued occu-
patton of so-called strategic points along
the line of communication between Peking
and the sea. There is no question in the
mind of our government as to the extreme
unwisdom of continuing the sending out
from Peking of punitive expeditions, which
the Chinese government desires discon-
tinued. So decided has been the objection
of our government as to the useIessness of
these military movements which, in it's
opinion, have done so much to prevent the
Chinese government from carrying out its
engagements to maintain order and insure
safety to foreigners that the United States
has been nearly at the point of withdraw
ing from the concert
On the last point, namely, as to whether
the Chinese princes are to be beheaded
our governments position remains unal-
tered 1t simply demands that the Chinese
government shall infiict on the offending
leaders, whether princes mandarins, or
peasants, the severest possible punishment
The answers to the Chinese questions turn
upon the understanding given to the word
possible" 1t is conceivable that the Chi
nese government raay find it absolutely i'm
possible to behead prince. The result of
the effort might be to overthrow the
dynasty, destroy the government itself and
plunge the country into renewed chaos. 1t
is a question of fact to be decided.
Meanwhile. 1t begins to appear from the
character of the Chinese response that
there may be more time consumed in Sc
curing final acceptance Of The agreement
than was at first expected. 1t was not to
be supposed that the allies, in view of their
union upon the use of the word "irrevo-
cable" as applied to the agreement, would
tolerate unnecessary delay on the part of
the Chinese government in acting upon the
agreement, but the inquiries made appear
to be so reasonable, at least, in the eyes
of our government, that there can scarcely
be valid objection to their consideration.
CHANGE OF EMPERORS
The Chinese minister had not returned to-
day from his trip to Montclair, NJ j., and
the officials of the Chinese legation had
received no information concerning the
reported selection of new Emperor or of
the reply said to have been made by the
Chinese envoys the demands of the
powers. The State Department is also un-
Informed on the reported change of EN-
rerors. and i'm view of the silence Of the
ministers the report is received with con-
siderable skepticism. The Chinese officials
are unacquainted with the lineage of the
youth said to have been chosen by the EN-
press dowager for the throne.
Some months ago the Empress dowager
designated the young son of Prince Tuan
as the successor of Kwang Su. Although
the name given in the dispatches as that OF
the new successor differs from that named
by the Empress dowager some time ago.
they may be one and the same, as imperial
names refer to the dynasties and change on
to the throne. that of Kwang
su being different from the name he bore
before he ascended the throne. Should the
change be confirmed ii would doubtless be
regarded by the powers as high-handed
act and one not likely to be countenanced.
In the present condition Of affairs such
by the Empress dowager would
De an offense against China as WEI as the
oowers. Under the ancient system Of China
Ihe Emperor is able to name his successor.
4 times going out. Of the imperial family.