Evening star., 1900-10-10

The answer TO the French note mas not
yet been completed, and the subject is re-
ceiving considerable attention at the hands
of the State Department 1t appears, how
ever, that although the French note closed
with request for speedy action upon the
suggestions therein contained the recent
happenings In China and especially in the
| province of Chilli have so far set back
peace negotiations that there is ample time
now to talk over the heads OF the demands
TO be made for 1t may be matter of weeks
and even months before the peace commits
sioners will he able to get to work
Attitude on the French Note.
There is no longer any doubt that this
government heartily approves the main
propositions laid down in the French note
| made public on the 9TH instant in regard
| to a common program to be adopted by the
powers a basis for peace negotiations
with China. AS to the first of the pro-
posed terms Of settlement, the punishment
of the principal culprts, this government
has already declared itself in unmistakabe
terms.
AS to the second. the maintenance of the
inhibition against the import of arms, this
government will not declare itself to the
point OF making it absolute prerequisite
| to further negotiations.
AS to the third and fourth propositions,
providing for equitable indemnities to
states societies and individuals and the
formation of a permanent guard for the le-
cations in Pekin, q cordial assent will be
given
AS to the fifth. which requires the disman-
tIement of the Notifications this govern
ment is not disposed TO go quite to the
length of making it Indispensable con-
ditiOn. as does the French note.
The sixth of the French conditions reads
as follows: Military occupation of two or
three points on the road from Tien TSin
to Pekin. which would thus be always open
| to the legations wishing to go 10 the sea or
to forces proceeding To Pekin from the
sea- This paragraph would seem I" make
| il obligatory upon the powers to maintain
garrisons at these points, and while the
conditions such as TO make their pres
ent application necessary for the safety OF
| the members Of the legations and others
desiring to travel between Pekin and Ilen
| Tsin, this government as disposed to make
| the demand as a matter Of right, 10 ne en-
eIcised by any or all of the powers at Will
The formal note embodying the views of
| this government, substantially as outlined
above. is in preparation, and viii be prob
| ably handed to NJ. Thiebaut, the French
| charge in Washington, within a day OF
two.
The PaO Ting Expedition.
| Ill-considered military operations in Chll
and elsewhere in China are said TO be
responsible for the check which diplomacy
| has met in reaching a settlement. Through
the efforts Of our own State Department,
seconded by the more conservative powers.
a steady and systematic pressure had been
| brought to bear upon the Chinese emperor
| TO bring about his return to Pek!n.
! The representation from the great south
| ern viceroys to the emperor, reported IN
Yesterdays dispatches, setting out the inn
possibility of supplying the court with
| money and food if 1t persisted in retreat!nS
| to Singan-Fu in Shensi, was but one of the
| means which had been resorted 10 at our
| instance to secure the return Of the court
| Other potent iuStrumentafitieS were also at
work toward the same end. when they were
| ali neutraiized by the spasmodic ana unnec-
| essary activity of the allied military forces
| There was no necessity whatever for the
| PaO-Ting-Fu expedition. iii the Judgment
| of the officials here, and that venture was
! the straw Hhicn determined the imperial
| court to reject all oVertures to return, and
| TO flee 10 the western mountains.
| Everything was quiet at Pao-Ting-Fu and
| throughout the whole of the province of
| Chill. and, indeed, at all points in China
| where the Chinese We're lei alone and not
| attacked without cause. il Hung Chang
| and the Viceroys Of the south had pledged
! themselves TO ma aintain order and guarantee
| protection for foreigners and property in
| their respective provinces. That was made
! a condition precedent by the United States
| government to the establishment of rela-
| tons with them looking to the initiation Of
| negUtia tiOnS for a final settlement Accord
| ing 10 all reports that reached Washington on
| the Viceroys had lived Loyalty up to their
! promises, in spite Of irritating military eX-
| petitions and movements Of various kinds
/, set up against their protests, and therefore
| 1t is regarded as particularly unfortunate
| that the allied forces should persist now in
] the expedition against Pao-Tng-Fu.
| 1t is not known here whether or not the
| Germans are the moving force in that pro-
| ject and a contrary conclusion Is dra wn
| from the fact that Waldersee is not the di-
| recting head. Indeed, each nationality ap-
hl tirltT tl,a - ,,.n
| itary commander, and military affa rs in
| China, 1T feeling his controlling hand, ap-
| pear to be in hopeless confusion. viewed
| in Washington.
American Troops Not Involved.
| In this state of affairs some satisfaction is
| felt in the fact that the American troops
| are not in any manner involved in the ac-
| tivities of the allied forces, and it is said
that the movement looking to their with
! drawal will proceed uninterruptedly 1t
| cannot be learned whether or not the reduc-
| ton will go SO far to limit the strength
| of the American legation guard to POO men,
| but il is probable that this will be done, If
| 1t is possible, to get the other powers to do
| likewise in consideration of the return of
| the imperial court to Pekin.
| Omcials Regarded as Guilty.
| 1t Is learned that the names of several Chi
| nese officials mentioned in yesterdays dis
| patches as pointed out for punishment by
Germany were as a mattero of fact also named
by the ministers in Pekin of nearly all of the
| powers. Certainly they were on Mr. Con-
| gers list, and there were about a dozen
| more whose names are not disclosed here
But taking the list of officials whom the
| imperial edct names for punishment the
belief IS growing here that 1t will perhaps
| be sufficient to satisfy all proper demands
! Our own government Is inclined to accept
| it as proper reparation. The punishment Of
! ic
declared to be much more severe than il
| would appear to western minds. and in view
| of the fact that Tuan is a prince of the
| blood royal this banishment is actually
about heavy penalty custom pre-
scrbes.