The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-05
G RhAfY, FRisCE AND RUSSIl
PLANS SUBMITTED FoR THE coN-
sIDERATIoN OF THE UNITED
STATES
SHIPMENT OF ARMS TO CHINA
Its Interdiction Forms One Clause
In the. Programme of the
Franco-Russian Propo-
sition.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.-Propositions or
far reaching character concerning
China are being presented in rapid sue
cession to this government The state de-
partment had no sooner disposed of ona
OF these propositions today, by delivering
response to the German government.
than 1t was confronted by an even more
important proposition submitted by the
French government, and within half an
hour formally seconded by the Russian
government
The answer to Germany covered the
subject of furnishing Chinese offenders
and made known that the United States
had instructed Minister Conger along the
lines suggested by Germany. These in
structions look towards securing the
names Of the persons deserving chastise-
ment, also whether the punishments ac-
cord with the gravity of the crimes COM
mitted, and finally, in what manner the
United States and the other powers are
to be assured that satisfactory punish-
ment is inflicted. Aside from these speci-
fc purposes Of the note it is regarded as
important chiefly in establishing the most
sat~factory relations between the gov
ernments at Washington and Berlin The
Franco-Russian proposal takes much
broader scope and submits a programme
under which the negotiations for COM
plete settlement can be carried forward
The French charge, M. Thiebaut, handed
the proposition to Secretary Hay today
and held brief conference concerning it.
A half hour later M, de Wollant, the
Russian charge, arrived at the state de-
partment and handed Mr.. Hay note ex-
pressing Russian approval of the proposi1
tions just submitted by France Alr. Hay
gave no formal answer to the two COM
munications, as they will go first to the,
president at Canton
FRANCQzRUSSIAN PROPOSAL.
The Franco Russian proposition is un-
der four heads,s namely First, punish
ment of the guilty parties; second, in
terdIctlon of the shipment of arms into
China; third, payment of indemnity 10
the powers and fourth. sufficient guaran-
tees for the future
In addition suggestion is made for the
establishment of permanent legation
guard at Pekin; for the razing of the
Taku forts, and for the maintenance of
line of communication between Pekin
and the sea
The impression here, in advance of ac-
ton on propositions by our government
Is that they contain nothing essentially
uniting them to be subjects of consid-
GRAFTON in a final settlement The diff
Guilty which is likely to arise lies in tho
placing Of proper limitations upon the
scope of each head. This is particu-
larly true of the subjects of guarantees.
and, perhaps, of that of indemnity Still,
as already suggested, each is undoubted--
ly most proper subject for discussion
when the final negotiations are reached,
and therefore M. Delcasse's broadest
propositions. while likely to consume
some time in reducing them to ultimate
and binding form, may be said to have q
fair reception awaiting them.
AS to the Introduction of arms the state
department already has intimated that
there may be a question as to its wisdom.
and there is reason to believe also that
Germany will not view that particular
feature with approval But there appears
to be good reason to expect that a middle
ground will be reached by confining the
Introduction of arms to a specified period,
pc ssibly to be fixed by the time required
by China within which to pay the indem-
nifty. The chief objection to the PROPOSE
tion is in its being permanent in its pres
ent form.
What the United States government
particularly desires to avoid is entering
into a programme that leans in any man
ner toward the maintenance of footholi
on Chinese soil, and if the other PROPOSE
tions relative to the maintenance of
line of free and safe communication be-
tween Pekin and the sea and to the lega-
ton guards can be modified by the direc-
ton of temporary expedients, they will be
more likely to receive the support of ou:
government. 1t is apparent from the
ccmplexity of the latest Franco Russian
proposal that the phase of negotiation
thus inflated will take some time to dis
pose of.