The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-10-10
THE CHINESE
NEGOTIATIONS.
France Submits Propositions
Under Four Heads.

Washington, Oct 4 4-Propositions
of far reaching character concern
ing China are being presented in
rapid succession to this government
The state department had no sooner
disposed of one of these propositions
today, by delivering a response to
the German government. than it was
confronted BY an even more import
ant proposition submitted by the
French government. and within half
an hour this was formally seconded
by the Russian government.
The answer to Germany covered
the subject Of Furnishing Chinese
offenders and made known that the
United States bad instructed Minis
ter Conger along the lines suggested
by Germany These instructions
look toward securing the names of
the persons deserving chastisement.
also whether the punjshments accord
with the gravity of the crimes
committed and finally. in what man
ner the United States aud the other
powers are to be assured that salts
factory punishment is inflicted
Aside from these specific purposes of
the note, it is regarded as important
chiefly in establishing the most
satisfactory relations between the
governments at Washington and
Be-lip
The Franco-Russian proposal takes
a much broader scope and submits a
programme under which the negotia
tions for complete settlement can
be carried forward The French
charge, M. Thiebaut, handed the
proposition to Secretary hay after
noon today and held 8 brief confer
ence concerning it. Half an hour
later NJ de Wollant. the Russian
charge, arrived at the state depart
ment and hsuded to Mr Hay note
expressing Russian approval of the
propositions just submitted By
France Mr. Hay gave no formal an
swer to the two communications, as
they will go first to the president at
Canton.
The Franco Russian proposition is
under four heads. namely First, the
punishment of the guilty parties ;
second. interdiction of the shipmeu
Of arms into China third. payment
of indemnify to the powers, and
fourth, sufficient guarantees for the
future
In addition, suggestion is made
for the establishment of permanent
legation guard at Pekln for the
razipg of the Taku forts, and for the
maintenance of line of communica
:ion between Pekin and the sea
The impression here. in advance OF
action on these propositions by our
government is that they contain
nothing essentially uniting them to
be subjects of consideration in a
final settlement The difficulty which
is likely to arise lies in the placing
of proper limitations upon the scope
of each head. This is particularly
true of the subject of guarantees and,
perhaps, of that of indemnity Still,
ss already suggested, each is IN
doubtedly a most proper subject for
discussion when the fiual negotiations
ere reached and therefore, NJ.
Delcasse's broadcast proposition, while
likely to consume some time in re
ducipg them to ultimate and binding
form. may be said to have fair re-
ception awaiting them
As to the introduction of arms the
state department has intimsted that
there may be q question as to its
wisdom, and there is reason to be
iieve, also, that Germany will not
view that particular feature with
approval. But there appears to be
good reason to expect that middle
ground will be reached by con6ning
the interdiction of arms TO specified
period, possibly to be fixed by the
time required by China within which
to pay the indemnity The chief
objection to the proposition s in it's
being permanent in it's present form
What the United States govern
ment particularly desires to avoid is
entering into programme that leans
in any manner toward the mainten-
apce of foothold on Chinese soil
and if the other propositions relative
to the maintenance of line of free
and safe communication between
Pekin and the sea, and to the lega.