Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-28
MORE COM MISSIONER S
APPOINTMENT OF ADVISERS TO MN
IsTER CONGER BEING CONSIDERED.
Fiscal and Commercial Matters Re-
Iuiring. Expert Knowledge to
he Taken Up.

The appointment of additional commits
sioners to complete the Chinese negotia-
tons advisers to Minister Conger is un-
der serious consideration by the admins ira
tion. There have been few points at
which Mr.. Conser in the performance of
his delicate and difficult duties, has not
given entire satisfaction TO the Department
Of State 1t is not much the feeling of
this kind, however, which will influence the
President in naming additional commission
ers, as the feeling that questions about
to arise when will call for expert knowl-
edge. The signature of the protocol by the
representatives of all the powers is only
the beginning of what has to be done to Sc
cure Il settlement of the future of China.
What remains to be done relates largely to
fiscal and commercial matters where ex-
pert knowledge is considered necessary
1t is by means certain that these final
negotiations will be conducted at Pekin.
They may be transferred TO some Euro
pean capital or even TO Washington, but
the whole matter is sill open. The United
States government proposes 10 urge that
commercial concessions be demanded of the
Chinese to some extent in lieu of money
indemnity for recent wrongs.
certain amount of money will be re-
quircd from some source TO make amends
to the families of those who have suffered,
but this might be taken from the treasures
Oh the contracting powers II ifleE fctt thaL
they were Obtaining greater eompenSa-
ton in concessions than any amount of
money involved. Instructions upon this
point will be sent Minister ConGer in much
detail, If the negotiations con ntinue in his
hands. The United States may propose
some sort Of international board to make
suggestions 10 the Chinese government re-
ga:ding fiscal and economic reforms 1t is
thought that such G. board might he con-
stituted in manner which you'd give it
controlling influence with tfe Chinese gov
eminent, without derogating from the in
dependence and dignity Of China. Several
projects of this character iiave been laid
before the State Department.; ny students of
the subject and one Of Them may be amend
ed and adopted by Secretary Hay and AS
ssiant Secretary Hin For transmission 10
oar minister At Pekin. Tnc opportunity was
kept open for this sort Of settlement by
that provision of the protocol which pro-
vides that China is TO adopt financial
measures acceptable to the> aowers for the
purpose of guaranteeing the payment of
the said iudtmnities and the interest and
amortization of the loans"
The matter of the revision OF the COM
mercial treaties, provided for in article XI
of the protocol, may cali for prolonged and
delicate negotiations. The work may be
made easier by remtting controverted ques-
onS 10 an international board than by at
tempting to settle them all by the terms of
treaty. II is felt by some of the off,
Gals of The Slate Department that better
results might be obtained by process Of
gradual pressure for specific concessions
than by the attempt to define them all at
the present time. The powers will be able
to reserve the right to make any reasonable
demands in general treaty, and a board
OF experts might then determine from time
to time how far to carry their demands for
specific reforms.