Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-11-23
TALK ABOUT CHINA.
Cabinet Discusses the Situation in
the Orient.
THE ATTITUDE OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
Won't Join I'm Presenting Demands
Which Can't BE Complied with
Interests of America
Must BE Met.

slludtion was the mann topic under
consideration at Tuesdays cabine
meeting. The administration is no
disposed to join with the other gov
ernments in making demands upor
the Chinese imperial authorities
which the Chinese government can
not comply with.
So far as our government is advised
the foreign ministers at Picking have
not yet agreed upon all points under
discussion. Mr.. Conger has reported
from time to time the various propo
sitions under consideration, but he
has not yet indicated that the end
is at hand or that anything in the
nature of an agreement has been
reached upon which the various pow
ers might act and which is to serve
as basis of negotiation with the
Chinese authorities. Mr. Conger has
not, however. been heard from for a
week, and this fact has caused some
encouragement to the officials, who
expected that this phase of the diff
cult question would soon be closed.
Question of Indemnity.
Having passed over the stage of
prescription of the Chinese leaders
who were responsible for the Boxer
outrages, the foreign ministers are
believed now to be engaged with the
difficult subjects of indemnities and
guarantees. The last United States
proposition was in line with the Rus
sian project to allow The Hague com
missioners to adjust the indemnities.
It is believed that this proposition
has never commended itself to the
British or the German governments,
and failing such reference of the
question of indemnity it is believed
that 1t will be most difficult task
for the ministers at Picking to reach
an agreement on this subject, partic-
ularly in view of the existence of a
very strong suspicion of the motives
of some of these ministers. This APP
parent difference in original purpose
between the United States govern
ment and some of the other powers
has operated to prevent a settle
ment of the Chinese question upon
The broad lines laid down in the state
departments proposition. 1t is true
that ell OF the powers subscribed a
more or less reluctant assent to such
proposals as look to the prevention
Of the partition of China and the
guarantee of an "open door" to all
corners. yet it begins to appear from
the course of the negotiations that
either these promises We're not sim
cere in all cases, or that some of the
makers honestly have changed their
minds as to what shall be done for the
present in China.
Will Stand with Powers.
1t may be stated, however, regard
less of the embarassments and delays
that follow from the existence of this
state of affairs, that the United
States government does not propose
to be driven out of the concert rela-
tive to China at this juncture in the
negotiations; for, notwithstanding
the wish cherished by the admins
tration to free the government from
these entanglements at the earliest
possible moment, and to withdraw
entirely our military forces from
China, it has definitely been deter
mined that this shall not be done
until all proper interests of the Unit
ed States in China have been con-
served.
To Prepare for War.
London, Nov. 21.-"It is credibly re-
ported" says the Shanghai CORE
spondent of the Daily Telegraph, I'M
der Mondays date, chat the empress
dowager has telegraphed secret de-
cree warning all governors and vice
roys to prepare for immediate war
against the allies everywhere"
Germans Advance.
Berlin, Nov 21.-The war office has
received the following telegram from
Field Marshal Count Won Waldersee:
A detachment, consisting of two com
panies of infantry, force of mount
ed men and two guns, under COM
mand Of Maj. Muhlenfels, has been
via San Kia .Tien, FL
kilometers west of Picking, with or
ders to push on to the Great Wall.
Text of the Edict.
Washington, Nov. 21.-The Japanese
legation has received from the foreign
Office at Toxic the text of the Chinese
imperial edict, dated the 18th inst, on
the punishment of the anti-foreign
officials It is to the following eff
feet:
"Orders have been already issued for the
punishment of the officials responsible for
opening hostilities upon friendly powers
and bringing the country into the present
critical condition by neglecting to sup
press. and even by encouraging the Box
ars. But as Picking and its neighborhood
nave not been entirely cleared of the Box
ers, the innocent people are still suffer-
ing terribly through the devastation of
heir fields and the destruction of their
state of affairs which cannot
TAIL to fill one with the bitterest feelings
severely punished, how can the anger of
The people be appeased and the indigna-
ion of the foreign powers allayed?
The Penalties.
accordingly, Prince Tuan is hereby de-
,riyed of his title and rank and shall, to-
,ether with Prince Chwang, who has al
'eady been deprived of his title, be deliv-
red to the clan court to be kept In prison
NTH the restoration of peace, when they
risoned for life. Princes VI and Tsai-Yung,
Who have both been already deprived of
heir titles, are also to be delivered to the
Ian court for Imprisonment, while Prince
-sai- Lien, also already deprived of title
nd rank, is to be kept confined IN his
wn house. Duke Tsai-Lan shall forfeit
is ducal salary. but may be transferred
18th the degradation of one rank. Chief
ensor Ying Men shall be degraded two
anks and transferred.
Spared by Death.
tf-f +