Evening star., 1900-10-18
Prince Ching. and Earl Ii Seeking a
t'emsn..
BASIS FOR Negotiations ADVANCED
State Department Hears From Min
istersconger.
MR.. WI TALKS WITH MR.. HAY

For the first time in three days Minister
Conger was heard from at the State De-
partment today. He communicated by cable
the substance of certain propositions ad-
vanced by Prince Ching and Ii Hung
Chang as basis for the conduct of nego-
dations for settlement Of the Chinese
trouble. The Chinese government had al
ready prepared the way for these by q
preliminary action looking toward the pun
ishment of Chinese officials guilty of COM
pdicity In the Boxer uprising. and. while
the text Of Mr.. Congers communication
is not made public, it Is believed that the
latest Chinese advance is addressed to
some Of the propositions contained in the
French note, being In the nature of counter
proposals and proceeding upon the theory
that what has been done in the matter of
punishments Is sufficient to meet the de-
mands of the powers in that respect.
Minister WI Sees Mr. Hay.
Minister Wu called at the State Depart
ment today by appointment. although this
was diplomatic day, and had long con-
ference with Secretary Hay. The secretary
had previously spent hour with the
President at the White House, presumably
in the consideration of Mr.. Conger's COM
munication, and it Is believed that Minister
light upon some of the detailed PROPOSE
tions.
The Latest French Proposals.
There is reason to believe that the gov
ernment will take favorable action on the
latest proposition Of the French govern
ment presented yesterday through the
French charge daffaires, M. Thlebaut
That contemplates the Immediate open
ing Of peace negotiations from those
points which the powers are agreed
upon, leaving to the ministers at Pc
kin the details Of working out q fur-
ther agreement on those points upon
which the powers made reservations The
basis of the negotiations would De the
French note delivered on October T.. To-
gether with the replies Of the other powers
In announcing the results of that nego-
tiation the French government makes II
known that that note Is accepted IN prli-
ciple'' by all of the powers, aitnougn some
of them, as In s.the case OF the united
States, made certain reservations on some
of the propositions advanced by france
But in view, of favorable action In the
main principles the French government
now deems ityexbedient to proceed at once
with the negotiations, so far as all are
agreed. Thatuwould make practically two
negotiations going on at the same tme
one concerning the points of agreement
China, and the other by the ministers at
Pekin, with a. view to securing agreement
previous to submitting them to China
There is felt to be no Inconsistency in hav-
ing this double work proceed concurrently,
and 1t has the advantage of getting the
peace negotiations actually under way
Designation of Peace commissioners.
In case Of a;favorable reply to France. 1t
Is probable that steps would have to be
taken to designate plenipotentiaries for the
powers, for up to this time Mr.. Conger Is
acting only as minister and Mr.. Rockhill
as commissioner to make inquiries, and
there is no authorization to either of them
to conduct peace negotiations Whether
special plenipotentiaries shall be named or
additional powers shall be given to Mr..
Conger and Mr.. Rockhill is still undesided
About the most serious obstacle which
stands In the way of immediate peace nego-
tiatioRs is the absence Of the imperial fam
lily from Pekin, and the doubt that creates
as to full approval being given to the work
of the Chinese plenipotentiaries. While the
latter claim to have full credentials, the
powers have looked upon the presence of
the emperor at Pekin as an almost indiS-
pensable requisite toward giving the nego-
tiations complete efficacy. 1t is generally
conceded that the presence of the emperor
would have a significance considerably be-
yond anything thus far brought out. in the
way Of firmly re-establishing his imperial
authority and freeing ii from the intrigues
and anti-foreign influences which have for
the last two years practically nullified his