Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-12-18
ENGLAND is FIRM.
Insists That Demands on
China Shall Be Severe.
China Must Fulfill All Before Allied
Forces Are Withdrawn.
Russians and Americans Issuing Rice TO lie
Destitute Chinese.

LcndCn, Dec. 13-"Great Britain has
instructed Sir Francis Satow, | under
stand" says the Pekin correspondent
Of the Daily Mail. wiring, Sunday, TO
urge the retention in the joint note Of
the word 'irrevoca BILE and the inclu-
sion in the preamble Of a declaration
that until the Chinese government
has fulfilled the demands of the DOW
ers. Pekin and the province of Chi Ii
will not be evacuated by the allied
troops
1T is rumored that Germany is
warmly supporting the British proposal
and | believe a majority of the pow
ers, and possibly all Of them, will
eventually accept the proposal, which
is hailed here with delight"
Pekin, Dec. 17.-With the exception
Of one. all the foreign ENJOYS believe
that the government will agree upon
the text Of the parliamentary joint
note. England is disputing a point
with Japan, and it is now doubtful
whether the meeting that had been
fixed for tomorrow will take place.
The Russians have purchased 500 900
worth of rice. which is being given to
destitute Chinese. Gen. Chaffee, the
American commander, is also having
a large amount of rice issued.
While number of German officers
We're dining they very narrowly es-
capped death by asphyxiation in the
fumes from a Chinese stove. Four out
Of seven We're partly insensible for
more than half an hour.
The railway from Pekin to Taku is
now completed. To make the trip Of so
miles generally takes 20 hours
Gen. Chaffee. desiring a thorough in
vestigation of the reports from Ho 81
WI. as to Boxer activity in that dis
trict. has sent a troop of the 9Th Unit
ed States Cavalry and 50 members of
co. f of the 9Th Inf. there to quell any
disturbance caused by Boxers or ban
dts
Neither Gen. Chaffee nor Sir Alfred
Gaselee, the British commander, be-
lieves that there is a large body Of
Boxers anywhere under arms, al
though some reports are present Of
the Germans seeing Boxers every day.
Berlin. Dec ia dispatch received
here from Pekin dated Dec I6. saws III
Hung Chang is suffering from influenza.
The dispatch also adds that the Dowager
Empress is going to Cheng Tu, province
OF SEE Chuen.
Washington, Dec. 17.-Such reports
as the state department as had from
Mr.. Conger up to the present fail to
develop a satisfactory reason for the
insistence Of the British government
upon amending the PekIn agreement
on the one hand, or for the hesitation
Of the foreign ministers in acceding to
the amendment on the other. A close
perusal Of the British suggestion still
fails to show that it is in any sense
material.
AS already stated il appears on it's
face to be nothing more than the elimi-
nation OF an explanatory phrase. which
in no degree affects the action pro-
posed in the section of the agreement
to which the amendment applies. thus
the action IS left to stand by itself
without a statement Of reason which
would not even qualify or limit the
action which in this case relates to the
punishment Of the Boxer leaders. Con-
sequently it is believed here that this
disagreement viii be merely temporary
and the most serious consequence that
can ensure is an annoying delay at a
moment when the worst phase of the
seem to have safely
passe.
A long instruction was sent to Min
lister Conger, this afternoon. informing
him fully as to his course. He al
ready had been authorized to sign the
agreement and it is said that this
TraQh iDGtrI1rriau u-iI1 en- I'll he.
Of obstacles at Pekin as to make ii
probable that all Of the signatures Of
the ministers can be affixed at once
This statement even includes the Brit
lsh minister. Sir Edward Satow. who
has been the last to come forward.