The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-12-25
AMOUNT OF INDEMNITY.
America Wants to Restrict II TO Two
Hundred Millions but Knows
That wnl BE Impossible,


NEW YORK, Dec, st--A special 10
the Herald from Washington SAYS:
Two hundred million dollars Is the
maximum sum the administration
wants the powers to demand OF China
as indemnity yet the figures are likely
to be many times that amount. The
United States army has a deficiency OF
$ll,OOO,OOO for transportation and army
supplies, and most OF that Is charged
against China,
A determined effort win be made by
the president and Secretary HAY 70 in
duce the powers to consent TO the ar
bitration Of the indemnity question by
court to be appointed In conformity
with the provisions OF The Hague
treaty
Article six OF the agreement signed
by the foreign ministers In Pekln re
duires the payment by China OF "edult-
able lndemnities" OF very sweeping
character. The indemnity to be paid to
the governments is in the nature OF res
titution OF the expenses incurred In de-
spatching and maintaining troops in
China and, II is feared. may be made to
include sums to be paid to the heirs OF
those killed in action or to those who
received wounds during the engage
ment incident to the capture OF Pelxin.
The total losses OF the allied forces de-
Tending the legations were 81 killed and
is0 wounded, and many Chinese in the
employ OF missionaries and the lega-
tions lost their lives,
An idea OF the indemnity to be de-
manded for the expenses OF the sever
al military expeditions may be OBJ
0iEed from this table sh wing the
strength OF the allies; Russia IS 500
men, brought from Siberia: Japan o.
57S men, transported from Japan; Ger
many 1900 men and a guns all but
few Of whom. stationed before the out
break occurred at Kiou Chou, were
brought from Germany; Great Britain
S7I6 men. brought from Hong Kong and
India. United States 5sis men. de-
spatched rom the Philippine and the
United States; France 537S men. sent to
the north from Cochin China; Italy 1000
men, transported from Italy; Austria
2S4 men, landed from her warships.
TIL, -,efasfa- -, MI v,fa ,F h,
powers are the religious bodies which
maintain missionaries in China, many
Of whom were killed. They will not
only want heavy sums TO indemnify the
heirs OF those killed but to solace those
who were insulted and also to repair
the damage done in the destruction Of
mission property. Many merchants suf-
fered losses in consequence OF the OUT
RACES. The American legation in Pekin
was owned by Colonel Charles DENLY.
Mr.. Conger's predecessor, and the other
legations were also owned by foreigners
or foreign governments.
1t win thus be seen that the amount
VI ItuFuluAAg VIII d1ShlAAG hANdhktN RAN-
portions American officials believe the
amount demanded should not be more
than $500 100000 and that in case Of in
ability to properly distribute the indem-
nifty the matter should be brought to
the attention Of The Hague court. In
case. however, II should develop that II
is impossible to agree on a reasonable
sum, then this government will urge
the immediate reference Of the whole
indemnity question to a court OF Ave
Jurists to be selected from those MEM
bers Of The Hague tribunal nominated
by countries whose interests are not
largely affected by the Chinese troubles.
1t is pointed out that there are sixteen
nations signatory to The Hague treaty,
ten only Of whom were involved in the
Chinese trouble The remaining six,
Denmark, Sweden and Norway, The
Netherlands, Roumania and Portugal
have appointed or will appoint, II the
precedent fixed by the other powers Is
followed. their ablest jurists. so that
there would be no difficulty in the way
Of getting an unbiased court. Claim
ants could submit their claims to this
court. which would receive and consider
them.