Evening star., 1900-09-20
VICER0YS' REQUEST
Chinese Authorities Eager for Peace
Negotiations.
ANXIETY OF MINISTER WI
Probable Attitude on Germany's
Proposition.
ADVICES FROM CHAFFEE
XIETY OF MINISTER WI
ADVICES FROM CHAFFEE


scales toward an immediate opening of
the negotiations. Another move in that di-
rection was made today when the Chinese
minister presented to the State Department
a dispatch from the two powerful southern
viceroys Of Nankin and Wuchans asking
that the United States instruct it's officials
in China to begin peace negotiations. The
viceroys set forth the diSa advantages of con-
tinued delay in prolonging the present un-
settled condition of China and in further
complicating the questions to be dealt with
by the powers
Want Authority Given COnEer.
The Chinese minister, Mr.. WI. was again
at the State Department at early hour
today strenuously urging the officials to be-
gin negotiations at once, and directly with
the Chinese government If need be. He
had been informed by his own government
that the technical difficulty In the way of
these negotiations was Mr.. Congers lack
Of authorization. Our minister has told the
Chinese officials, in this case probably
Prince Ching, that his credentials as min
lister are not sufficient in themselves to
warrant him in acting as an envoy to
range a settlement with the Chinese gov
ernment of the troubles which have
Cured within the past few months
Mr.. Rockhill is also powerless to meet the
demand for an immediate representative.
being nothing more than eyes and ears
for the United States government, and
without voice. Now the Chinese officials
are asking with great urgency that spe-
c'al credentials be cabled to Mr.. Conger.
or that some other properly empowered
person be immedia tely designated in order
that negotiations may begin at once.
willing to Give Guarantees.
Mr.. WI had another matter to present
to the department today. and that was an
appeal from the viceroys of Wuchans and
Nankin provinces that no more interna
tional troops be landed in their territories.
They feared the exciting effect upon the
Chinese of the presence of these troops,
and were willing to guarantee the peace of
the provinces, and the protection of for
eigners II these troops are excluded.
China Anxious to Negotiate.
Minister WI strongly seconds the appeal
of the viceroys. He says that China Is at
times accused of being slow, hut in this
case a month has PASSED since the lega-
tons were rescued, and yet there is no move
to proceed with negotiations. although
China is ready and anxious to begin them.
He points out that the various conditions
and general qualifications which have been
made to the appeals for opening negotia-
tions all have the effect of delay. The min
lister feels that the United States occupies
an enviable position just now to take the
lead in solving the difficulties and delay.
1t is universally recognized, he says, that
this country is absolutely free from any
ulterior motives against China, and that
whatever she proposes IS from disinter
ested and high-minded standpoint, calcu-
lated to benefit all concerned and prove a
real solution of the trouble. For that rea-
son the minister is using his influence to
have this government take the initiative
in opening peace negotiations, and thus set
an example which all the other powers will
follow.
The Chinese Peace Comnission.
Minister WI has not received the edict
reported from Shanghai, appointing the
viccroys of Nanking and Wuchang as part
of the Chinese peace commission. But in
view of the dispatch received from these
viceroys today, the minister has little
doubt that they will serve on the commits
sion. He says however, that ii will not be
necessary for them to leave their present
posts and go to Pekin. as the vice-royalties
are of too much Importance to permit their
departure. But they will be consulted by
telegraph, and their concurrence will be
secured in all settlements, and their sigma
lures given to the final peace agreement
The Chinese minister is at loss to ac-
count for the published report that his col
league, the Chinese minister at London,
denies that Tung Lu has been appointed
with Ii Hung Chang and Prince Ching as
peace envoys, as Mr. WI says there can be
no doubt about the matter, as he has re-
CelNed the imperial etlcL appointing iunS
lu.
Regarded as Significant.
The reported transfer of Sir Claude Mac
Donald, the British minister at Pekin, from
that post to Tokyo is regarded as signif-
cant in some diplomatic quarters. Those
familiar with the two posts say Tokyo has
less rank than Pekin, and that the pay of
the minister is less. The transfer is thought
to be due to the strain the British minis er
was under during the siege, but IL also has
the effect of removing one of the most
prominent figures in the current negotia-
tions and the who is understood to
have been foremost in urging severe meas
ureS against China.
Russia Was Before Germany.
1t now appears that Russia first put for
ward the proposition for the punishment Of
the leaders of the Chinese uprising. This
was in a paper offering a general program
for conducting the peace negotiations. The
first item Of the program was the punish
ment of the Chinese offenders. The pro-
posal came some time prior to the German
note, and seems to have been concurred in
by France and some of the other powers
although 1t did not receive such general
concurrence as to amount to an agreement.
The German note now takes up this first
item of the Russian program and makes 1t
an indispensable prerequisite to any nego-
tfatfons 1t materially differs from the Rus
sian proposal, in that the latter made pun
ishment a part of the negotiations, while
the German proposition now pending is to
make the punishment precede the negotia-
tons.
Reply to Germany's Proposal.
As the State Department has determined
to adhere to the diplomatic proprieties in
publishing whatever response 1t may make
to the last German proposition relative to
the punishment of the Chinese responsible
for the Pekin outrages, it is expected that
the text Of the United States note and
even the substance, will be withheld from
publication here for at least two days after
its delivery.
1t is believed that the answer will take
the form of a circular, addressed not to
Germany alone, but to each of the seven
powers interested In the Chinese situation
Furthermore, it Is believed that instead
of being an unconditional acceptance or re-
lection Of the German proposition, 1t will
be rather controversial, and be framed
with a purpose to develop the sentiments
Of the other powers respecting the Ger
man proposition and to secure support for
cur own view of that matter.
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