The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-21
JUST LIKE OUR SENATE
PROCEEDINGS AT PEKIN ENJOYS,
"SECRET'' MEETINGS PROMPT
LY MADE PUBLIC
TERMS AGAIN DECIDED UPON
Adoption of British Amendments to
joint Note viii Require Rati-
ficatiOn by Home Cow
ernments.

patch to the Reuter- Telegram company
from Pekin, dated Dec. 20, the ministers
have again decided upon the terms Of
the preliminary joint note. The dispatch
says that they have adopted certain
British amendments, which will require
the approval of the various governments
and that probably some weeks will elapse
before negotiations commence.
Lord Lansdowne, secretary of state for
foreign affairs, has concluded negotia-
lions, according to the Daily Mail, by
which Russia will, Jan. 1, give Great
Britain entire control of the railway from
Pekin to Shan Hal Kwan.
PEKIN, Dec. 20-Yesterday's meeting
of the foreign ENJOYS was protracted and
somewhat stormy owing to the desire to
discover who discloses to the Chinese
what every minister has pledged to keep
secret. Ii Hung Chang invariably knows
within two hours of a meeting what haa
happened.
The ministers admit that yesterday was
critical moment for the preliminary
joint note, as 1t was felt that a point had
been reached, where, If they did not agree
other difficulties might occur. AS a mat
ter of fact there was a threat by one
of the ministers that his government
would have other notifications and that
he had not reached a decision. European
and American residents, therefore, are
glad that stage has been reached where
something can be done.
ARE WASTING TINE.
1t is felt that valuable time is being
wasted and the country Sbecoming more
unsettled. A meeting of the ministers
will be held tomorrow to sign the note
which probably on Saturday will be de-
livered by all the ministers to Ii Hung
Chang and Prince Ching, with a request
that they reply as soon as possible. The
original note will be written in French.
Mr.. Conger and Sir Ernest Satow will
enclose an English translation, While a
Chinese copy also will be attached.
Four days will clapse before q reply
can be expected, owing, to the necessity
Of communicating with. the Chinese court.
The modiffca ton proposed by the Brit
ish government was that until China had
proved that she intended complying with
the terms of the note and rendering full
satisfaction to the powers. no hope could
be held that the occupation of the
| province of Chi il by all the forces would
cease.
| The interna donal battery-fring prac-
tice in Hunting park today resulted most
| creditably for the Americans.
SITUATION SERIOUS.
LONDON, Dec. pa dispatch to the
| Reuter- Telegram company from Pekin,
! dated Wednesday, Dec. 10, says the sit
uation throughout the provinces is rap
| idly growing worse and is causing grave
| anxiety. The dispatch adds that unless
| a definite system of government Is
speedily installed a recrudescence Of the
anti-foreign outbreaks is confidently pre-
dicted. The pressure of winter begins
to be felt by the people, who are also
| suffering on account of the blackmail
levied by the native employees of the
| allies, for which the foreigners are
blamed A number Of desperadoes, i'm
prisoned at San Chow Flu by Gen. Mel,
whom the Germans released, are now
hurrying to the Chi Ii Shang Tun bor-
! der, burning houses, numbering and pill
Laying.
WI CALLS ON HAY.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-Minister WI
called at the state department today to
| talk over the Chinese situation with