The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-30
NEWS IMPORTANT.
lit Tends to Advance Efforts for a
Settlement.
CHINA ACCEPTED SUGGESTION
OF The United States Contained in
Answer 10 Germany.
TOOK THE INTlMsTlON TO HEART.
China Government Has Already Begun Il
Punish Leaders.
SHESG'S DECREE IS OF IMPORTANCE
Ut Means that the Reactionary In
nuenccs Have suffered n COM
| pIetc Overthrow.
|
China Government Has Already Begun to
Punish Leaders.
sHtsG'S DECREE IS OF IMPORTANT

Washington. September 2s.-Important
news came from China at the end OF the
day which In itself tends TO advance ma
terially the efforts for final settlement.
China has accepted the suggestion of the
United States contained in the answer 70
the German proposition and has begun
voluntarily the punishment of the reac-
tionary Chinese leaders who are RESPONSE
BILE for the Pekin outrages.
1t win be recalled that in our answer
the state department was careful to state
that while 1t did not believe In demanding
the surrender of the Chinese ringleaders
as a condition precedent to negotiations.
1t was resolved firmly. as Secretary Hay
had said in his note of July 3d. that in the
end the guilty persons should be held to
the utmost accoun liability The Chinese
government has taken this intimation to
heart, and. perhaps FASTENED in its action
by the recent manifestation OF dissatisfac-
ton by the United States government at
the reported promotion OF Prince Tuan,
has already begun the punishment of him
ana the other Chinese leaders who are
held guilty.
The decree recited by sheng is felt to be
Of the utmost Importance as indicating a
complete change OF heart upon the part
Of the reigning dynasty. It means that the
reactionary Influences which have been
dominant in Pebin throughout the upris-
I ing aud have even continued OF late days,
nave suffered a complete overthrow, and
. -
fdegrsdcd and on trial. 1t Is believed here
that If this action is genuine, it will be
hard for any OF the powers to find a rea-
sonable pretext for longer refusing to need
the appeals OF the Chinese government for
the opening OF negotiations looking TO q
settlement.
The importance Of the action Is shown
by the determination TO try Prince Tuan
before the imperial clan court. This Is
the supreme judicial tribunal of China and
IL is the only one having Jurisdiction over
the members of the imperial family. 1t
is presided over by Prince Ii ~ the
well known Prince Ching as first vlc'
president
The alignment OF the powers on the
German propos ton to make the punish
ment of the Chinese rlngleaders a condi-
ton precedent to negotiations may now DO
stated as follows:
Great Britain. Russia and France stand
with the United States in regarding this
proposition as inexpedent
Japan occupies a middle attitude: she
is willing to follow the German lad II
all the other powers are agreeable, but
only for the sake OF preserving harmony
among the powers and not from bell
in the wisdom of the German prop ssltion.
Austria and Italy stand shoulder 10
shoulder with Germany, making the drei-
bund solid front. The first named two
powers do not attempt to argue the Ger
man proposition and their answers make
it apparent that they have accepted II
without much consideration.
Nothing is known here officially Of the
alternative proposition which is reported
to be preparing in Europe. 1t Il contains
the same feature as to prior punishm n,
as the original proposition, it is not likely
TO receive approval here.
The fact that Secretary Hay is ex-
pected to return to Washington next week
will not change In any way the policy o
the state department. The secretary has
been in the closest sympathetic touch with
all that has been done respecting China
and the stories printed in Germany to the
effect that he is coming back to reyersa
those policies is pronounced at the state
department to be absurd. The officials are
impressed, and have been from the begin
ming with the conviction that any attempt
imade to pun sh Prince TuaD before nego
ltiations arc undertaken Will absolutely
defeat all efforts to obtain peaceable and
: satisfactory settlement
Mr.. Conger was heard from in br Ell
cablegram today. This was not published
, but 1t IS understood to indicate no impor-
tant developments.