Evening star., 1900-09-19
1t Has Brought the Chinese Trouble
to an Acute Crisis.
MAY BRING ON PROLONGED War
Minister WI Says That the Con-
dition Can Not Be Granted.
HOPES FOR IT'S WITHDRAW AL

OeTIldH note OI yesterday ueHdnulIS tHS
punishment Of the Chinese officials re-
spOnsible for the Outrages upon foreigners
a condition precedent to peace nogotia-
tions has brought the Chinese trouble to
an acute crisis as far as the United States
government IS concerned. This conclusion
is based upon the belief in official circles
that the Chinese government cannot ac
cept the German proposition SO that it is
either to withdraw it's forces from China
ir mediately or to join Germany and Eng
land. and perhaps some other of the allied
powers in a prolonged war against China
which may involve the overrunning and
conquest of the entire country.
Diplomats Call at State Department.
Baron Won Sternterg, the German charge,
called early al the State Department today
to talk with Mr.. Adee, the second assistant
secietary of state, in explanation of the
points Of the German note.
But early as he was, Mr.. Wu, the Chi
nese minister had preceded him, showing
visible signs of nervousness and disquiet
over this latest move Mr. Adce made an
appointment for lin with DR. Hill. who
having recovered from his in,lisposltion is
again acting as Secretary of State. Then
Mr. Adce repaired to the White House to
communicate to the President the SUBJ
stance OF the conversations he had had
with the two diplomats and 10 assist in the
consideration of the German note He re-
fused TO discuss the latter publicly in any
phase.
May Settle Separately.
Attention has been directed in some
quarters TO the fact that in the very be-
ginning, in the note of July g. Secretary
Hay notified the Chinese government that
ne expected that the guilty parties in con-
nection with the outrases would be punish
ed. However, this demand was not made
CONDITION precedent TO negotiations. Now
the belief is growing that If the United
states government Is forced TO speedy
decision as to the German proposition 1t
may reSort to direct negotiations with the
Its scores with that government. Withdraw
from China, giving notice to the ALI Il
powers there of the arrangement it had
made, in order that that arrangement
should remain uninipaired and in fu.l force
and unaffected by any settlemen; that tie
allies may make thereafter as 10 China.
The German note was sent to me State
Department yesterday by Baron SteTnbers,
and the text is Identical with that given
in press dispatches.
Mfnister WINS Views.
Minister Wa Ting-fang was naturally
much interested today in Germany's note
to the powers asking combined action in a
demand that those responsible for the re-
cent troubles i'm China be surrendered as an
indispensable preliminary to an: peace
negotiations. When seen al the legation
he had before him copy of the published
text of the note.
Il can hardly believe that this step has
been taken, said he, "and if it has IL is
so unfortunate in its influence upon the
general question that am greatly in hopes
Germany viii reconsider. Tie condition
imposed upon China would be very hard.
Inf l;st.G .1,ln # 1a
subjects of negOtiation before negotiations
mad commenced. The Chinese ENJOYS are
invested with complete power to make
terms with the powers, SO that when the
negotiations are opened this question and
all others will be proper subjects for con-
slderation and final settlement by those
having complete authority to deal with
thcTn. But to take one subject up in ad-
Indispensable preliminary to negotiations
is extremely hard.
Would Stop Peace Negotiations.
More than this, such d condition, if i'm
posed. is simply impossible. This should
be clearly understood, for. being impossi-
he. the effect would be TO bring the peace
negotiations TO standstill Suppose the
situation was reversed. and this unfor-
tunate trouble had occurred in some one of
the countries now dealing with China. In
me midst of excitement suspicion might
have been directed against persons high in
authority even against the members Of
the RI kal family in that country. Would
that q untry, when the question of settle
ment came up, for moment consider the
surrender of those persons vaguely sus-
pected, or would ii rot ask that all such
questions be considered by the court which
was to pass upon the entire subject? Who
could tell to whom this condition would
apply? There have been intimations against
those very high in Chinese affairs, but it
would be very hard. yes, impossible, to say
in advance, before the nego;iators had con-
Sidered the question, that these persons
should be surrendered up. Who would fur
nish the proof? 1t is an indispensa BILE
requisite, according to your recognized ju-
dicial methods, that persons accused have
the right to be heard and that their evil
dence shall be taken into account in prov
ing an accusation. But, according to the
plan proposed. there would be a surrender
of the party first before the negotiators
had an opportunity to consider all ques-
tions of proof which might be presented.
Hopes Report Is Incorrect.
''Under these circumstances 1 am most
hopeful that Germany's note is less posi-
tive than the published reports indicate.
Recent indications have been that the diff
culties over beginning peace negotiations
had been overcome and that very soon the
negotiations would begin. For that rea-
son l feel that 1t would he unfortunate to
impose a condition which. being impossible
would brlhS the negotiations to q halt. The
effect of such stop in all proceedings
would be Of disadvantage to all" parties
concerned to the powers as well as to
China. 1t would leave them little lati-
tude of action in case any of them saw
fit to leave Pekin. In short, its effects
would be SO far reaching that am ex-
tremely anxious that Germany may see
her way clear to reconsider the proposal
The President's Reply.
1t is believed that after talking over the
situation with Attorney General Griggs and
Mr.. Adee the President reached conciu-
sion as to the response that should be
made by this government to the German
note. At any rate, Mr.. Adee hurried back
to the State Department from his confer
ence with the President and after some
talk with DR. Hill who had just returned
to his desk, began the preparation of an
answer, embodying the Presidents views.
1t Is believed that this draft is purely tenta-s
tive. for 1t LIS known that 1t is to be sub
mitted to the President and to the At
torney General, as well as to any other
member Of the cabinet who may return to
Washington within the next twenty-four
hours, before being forwarded.
The German government Is mauifesting a
disposition To secure q speedy disclosure
of the views OF the United States respect
ing its laat pr0D0sition That res,,if 10