The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-12-07
FEATURES OF AGREEMENT.
PROPOSALS OF Secretary Hay Adopted by
the Powers With But slight
Modification.

CHICAGO. Dec. GA special to the
Thmes-Herald from Washington say,'
American diplomacy leads the world.
The great powers have practically
reached an agreement as to the basis
of future movements In China and this
basis is that which was proposed by
Secretary Hay.
Secretary Hay has eahled Minister
Congcr tc Sign for the United States on
agreement which the ministers reached
at Pekin. This agreement was sent to
the home governments for their approx
al and With single exception every
power has already oabled It's represen.
tative at pekin TO sign the agreement
and that power win probably DO so
tomorrow
Thus the concert OF the powers is pre-
served and a practical and rational bas-
Is of settlement. has been reached
at last. thanks to the skill and firmness
OF the American secretary OF state.
The chief features OF the agreement are
as follows;
IT is stipulated that the punlshments
TO be meted out TO the guilty Chinese
are as severe as Il Is possible for the
Chinese government to administer. but
not more severe. The government OF
China is not to be asked to do the inn
possible.
II is expected that under this OBJ
legation the government win punish Sc
verely eleven ringleaders In the at
tacks upon the legations and In the in
element Of anti-foreign outrages. Some
Of these win be beheaded. Others will
be hanished or degraded.
II Great Britain and Germany had
been permitted to have their way the
dynasty would have been compelled to
agree 10 behead men who are beyond
the reach OF the emperor's government
--men who are in the western provinces
and in command OF military forces suf-
fieient to protect them Secretary Hay
has from the first contended that while,
in justice, all these heads should be
taken of, II is necessary to catch your
hare before cooking him, and that it
was simply absurd to require the Chi
rese government to decapitate men
whom il could not get hold OF.
These guilty officials will be banished
and degraded and thus II win be made
impossible for them to return to posi-
tions OF power
II is stipulated in the agreement
that the Chinese government is to for
mally admit its liabilities to the powers
for damages and for the expenses OF
military operations This done the
amount TO be paid for each nation is
to be ascertained afterwards by means
Of careful inquiries and estimates.
This part OF the plan will require |
much time and. while OF course 1t viii
give rise to opportunity for trouble
making powers to preclpltate new COM
plIcations. II is felt that a good point
has been gained by making the amount
OF indemnity a subject OF negotiations
as 1t should be rather than a prelim-
mary condition. Other features OF the
agreement pertain to the legation
guards to be kept at Pekin, to the rag
ing Of the Pekin forts and other mill
tary precautions similar to those pro-
posed by the French government a
month ago.
To all these conditions It is under
stood that Ii Hung Chang and Prince
Ching. representing the emperor, are
willing to aceede.
In official diplomatic circles here the
belief is expressed that a great step
forward has been taken and that again
there is good prospect Of an adjust
ment Of the seemingly unending com
plications without dlsmemberment and
without destruction to the dynasty. The
agreement now reached points to an
early military evacuation Of PekIn and
return Of the court to that capital.