The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-22
hitch IN THE JOINT NOTE
COMMUNICATION TO CHINESE Gov
ERNMENT is NOT YET
SIGNED
NEED FOR PROMPT ACTION
Minister COnger Has TeIegraphed
Washington That German Com
troll in PeIxin Is Worse
Than Chinese.

PEKIN, Dec. 2l.-Once more there is a,
pronounced hitch in the proceedings.
The preliminary joint note has not yet
been signed. Mr. Conger, the United
States minister, says he does not believe
that there are sufficient reasons why it
should not be signed in the near future,
and Sir Ernest Satow, the British min
ister takes the same view. DR.. Mumm
Won Schwartzenstein, speaking for Ger
many, believes that the existing agree
ment will be signed sooner or later. The
other ministers also say they consider
the probabilities in favor of signing.
Chinese sources of information, how
ever, say there is reliable authority for
the statement that there is very little
chance of the note being signed for some
time.
AS a matter of fact the members of the
staff of Ii Hung Chang believe that the
note will eventually have to be drawn up
either in Europe or America, probably
the latter, because they claim that tie
Washington government has had most to
do with the existing modification of the
various forms of harshness.
The United States are looked upon by
the Chinese as the only power really de-
string to retain the integrity of the Chi
ncse empire. The other powers are re-
garded as DESTROYS of breaking it up
with the possible exception of Russia,
who, the Chinese think, merely favors
a postpOnement in order eventually TO
secure a larger share.
Grave fears are felt regarding the
health of Ii Hung Chang, owing to a
severe cold that he caught on the day
he visited Gen Chaffee: 1t is said that
he is better today, but there is a fear of
pleTrisy; which, at his advanced age,
might be fatal.
1t is generally believed the Chinese get
their information as to what is done at
the meetings of the ENJOYS through some
one connected with the Russian legation.
CAUSE OF DELAY.
LONDON, Dec 22.-''The delay in sign
ing the preliminary joint note says the
Pekin correspondent of the Morning
Post, writing yesterday morning. lis due
to an objection from Washington. Min
lister Conger, however, has telegraphed
his government, urging a speedy settle
ment on the ground that German mill
tary control is worse than Chinese man
agement
Prince Ching says the Emperor
KWang Su and the empress dowager are
both anxious to leave Sian Flu, as the
accommodation there is poor and their
environment unfavorable He points out
| that the private and government prop
erty seized in Pekin is quite equivalent
| in value to the indemnity demanded by
| the powers.
Sir Robert Hart saw Prince Ching
yesterday and advised him against daily
ing with the powers in regard TO the
punishment of the guilty officials. Prince
! Ching thought the execution of two or
/ three possible and the life Imprisonment
! of Prince Tuan quite certain
MISTREATMENT OF CHINESE
The Toxic correspondent of the Times
in a long dispatch gives the views of
Japan upon western military methods
and conduct of troops in Pekin, and
makes grave charges of murder, robbery,
outTaging and arson.
The Japanese" he says, declare the
American soldiers free from all these ex-
cesses. The German come first, the Brit
ish second, the latter being charged only
with petty pilfering and generally ac-
quilted of murder arson and outrage.
The French are declared to be given to
loot and pillage, but not murder. Of the
Russians the Japanese speak with horror,
and combining ferocity with lust and the
love of murder
HAS LEFT SIAN Flu.
BERLIN, Dec 21-A dispatch from
Tien Tsin to the Frankfuter Zeitung,
dated today, says:
Prince Ching asserts that Emperor
Kwang Su, unaccompanied by the en-
press dowager, left Sian Flu, Dec. 10,
| bound for Pekin.