The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-19
PEACE OR WAR.
The Situation i'm China Has
Reached a Crisis
Through the New Position As
sumed by Germany.
BILLS ARE ASKED FOR
Native Christians in China Re-
quested to Submit
Estimates of Losses With a View
to Compensation.
NAMES OF ROWDIES
Who Committed Atrocities Are
Also Demanded.
Two Ringleaders Have Already
Been Decapitated.
Who Committed Atrocities Are
Also Demanded.
Two Ringleaders Have Already
Been Decapitated.

Washington, Sept 19@The general
impression here is that the German note
of yesterday, demanding the punishment
OF the Chinese officials responsible for
the outrages upon foreigners as con-
dition, precedent to peace negotiations,
has brought the Chinese trouble to an
acute crisis, as far as the United States
government is concerned. This conclu-
sion is based upon the belief in official
circles that the Chinese government can
not accept the German proposition, so
that it is now for the United States gov
ernment either to withdray it's forces
from China Immediately or to join Ger
many and England and perhaps some
other of the allied powers, in prolong-
ed war with China
Baron Won Sternberg, the German
charge d'afaires, just returned to wash
ington, called early at the state depart
ment today to talk with Mr. Adee, the
second assistant secretary of state, in
explanation of the points of the German
note
Mr. WI, the Chinese minister, had
preceded him. showing visible signs of
nervousness and disquiet over this last
movement. Mr.. Adee made an appoint
ment for him with DR.. Hill, who having
recovered from his indisposition, is
gain acting as secretary of state. Then
Mr. Adee repaired to the White House
to communicate to the president the
substance of the conversations he mad
with the two diplomats, and to assist in
the consideration of the German note.
He refused to discuss the latter publicly
in any phase.
Attention was directed in some quar-
ters to the fact that in the very begin
ming, in the note of July 3, Secretary
Hay had notified the Chinese govern
ment that he expected that the guilty
parties in connection with the outrageS
would be punished. However, this was
not made a condition precedent to nego-
tiations Now the belief is growing that
if the United States government is
forced to a speedy decision as to the
proposition it may resort to direct nego-
tiatiors with China, and having settled
it's score with that government with
draw from China, giving notice to the
allied powers there of the arrangement
made in order that the arrangement
should remain in full force and unaf-
| fected by any settlement that the allies
WANTS TO SETTLE.
New York, Sept. ia dispatch to the
Herald from Hong Kong says: The
mandarin of the Namon district has re-
quested the native Christians to send an
account of their losses for compensation
and the names of the roWdles VINO
committed the outrages.
Two ringleaders have been decaplt-
ated and their heads exhibited in the
mission church at Tshi Ing.
Ever increasing bodies of rowd1eS on
the north river are plundering villages
A bogus proclama ton in Canton des-
cribeS the allies as defeated and ap-
peals to the empress dowager for peace
WI SCENTS TROUBLE.
Washington, Sept. 19.-Minister WI
was greatly interested today in Ger
many's note, asking combined action in
a demand that those responsible for the
trouble in China be punished as an in
dispensable preliminary to any peace
negotiations When seen at the lega-
tion, he had before him a copy of the
text of the note: ssI can hardly believe
that this step has been taken" said he,
''and If it has, 1T is so unfortunate in its
influence upon the general question, that
1 am greatly in hopes Germany will re-
consider. The condition imposed upon
China would be very hard. 1t would
amount to determining one of the sub
jects of negotiations before negotiations
had commenced
1.-THE Chinese ENJOYS are invested with
complete power to make terms with the
powers, so that when negotiations are
opened this question and all others will
be proper subject for consideration and