Evening star., 1900-09-26
TIMES is CRITICISED
English Accuse Thunderer of Flop
ping on Germany's Proposal.
EARLIER EDITORIALS QUOTED
All Sorts of Explanations of the
Answer to Germany.
WAR PROSPECT IN CHINA

LONDON, September 26.-The attempt OF
the London Times and other European pa
pers to distinguish between the view and
proposals contained in the German note
and their endeavor TO lay all stress on the
proposals without any attention to what
Germany considered preliminary to any
negotiation is pronounced here to be ut
terly at variance with the construction they
put on the note when ii was first made
public. The Times editorially, September
10, declared the German government rec
ognize the force of the contention We have
consistently laid down, that the punish
ment of the real authors of the attacks on
Europeans must be a condition precedent
to diplomatic dealings of any kind with
any of the representatives of China
Theme OF the EDITORIAL.
That was the theme of the whole edito-
rial. The proposal that the ministers at
Pekin be empowered to designate such real
authors OF the attacks was. it is pointed
out, treated merely incidentally, and as a
sequence to the first part of the note. no
endeavor being made to separate what Ger
many considered essential from what she
proposed. In fact, the proposal regarding
the designation of the authors of the at
tacks was then thought by the Times and
other papers In England and on the conti-
agreeing that their surrender was TO be
precedent to the negotiations. This view
was fully shared by the Berlin correspond
ent of the Times September 10, in spite OF
his change of base in today's issue, as fol-
lows:
Information shows that If America or
even England misunderstood Germanys
meaning II can only be the result of ig-
norance or an endeavor to enable the Ger
man government to retire from position
they find untenable."
The St. James Gazette says: This dis
covery OF the true inwardness OF the note In
very convenient. 1t is explained in Berlin
that the refusal of America is doubtless
owing to the dullards at Washington hav-
ing confused the two parts of Won Buelows
document. 1t Is a pity an analytical COM
mentary was not forwarded with the text
of the note
Warlike News From China.
Meanwhile the news from China ndi-
Gates that events are rapidly drifting in
the direction Of war between China and
Germany. There is the best reason for
believing says the Shanghai correspond
ent of the Morning Post, that Counl Won
Waldersee, on arriving al Taku. will pre-
sent an ultimatum demanding the surren-
der of five leaders OF the anti-foreign up
rising. After a few hours grace he viii
formally declare war and. taking advan-
tage of Germany's position as belligerent.
he will proceed to seize everything avail
1T Is expected that Germany will take the
Wu Sung forts and the kiangan arsenal
thus dominating Shanghai. 1t is also be-
lieved that she will attack the kiang Win
forts on the 1angtse from the land side
and endeavor to seize the Chinese fleet, in
cluding the valuable new cruisers. Failing
In this, she will at least occupy all the
province of kiang Su, north of the Yangtse
kiang.
1.-The French will support Germany. This
IS not rumor, but reliable Information. and
Will probably be confirmed at the foreign
office. Prompt action is necessary to pre-
vent coup, which will constitute a serious
menace to British interests Russia has
handed over the Taku-Pekin railway 10
Germany.
Prince Tuan's Machinations.
The Shanghai correspondent of the Stand
ard, telesraphing Monday, says: Chinese
officials report that PRINCE Tuan has issued
a secret edict in the name of the empress
dowager TO the effect that the imperial
court has decided to continue the war
against the powers at whatever cost. The
edict threatens that any official falling IN
support the Manchus will be beheaIed as
a traitor, his whole family executed and
the tombS of his ancestors demolished