The Atlanta constitution., 1900-12-03
The Chinese Situation.

There can be no question of the sin
cerity of this government in it's desire
to reach such solution of the Chi
nese complications as will bring per-
manent peace and as will insure both
the integrity of the Chinese empire
and an open door TO the commerce
of the world for all time TO come.
Just how much or how little the
other governments mean by their prot
estations in the same line, it may, per-
haps, be unfair at this stage of the
proceedings 20 say; but there can be no
doubt that the surface indications are
sufficient to arouse suspicion.
There has been ominous delay in the
proceedings at Pekin. For weeks the
duly accredited representatives of the
Chinese government-men whose au-
thority to speak cannot be questioned
and whose friendship for the progress
sive foreign element has been
many times demonstrated have been
urging. rs far as they could,
that the ministers of the foreign
powers begin negotiations with
them The American minister, MIR
Conger, has apparently left no stone
unturned to hasten the negotiations.
In the meantime, however the minis
ters seem to have gone ahead Just as
slowly as they possibly could. The
latest reports from Pekin indicate
that they have struck something cal
culated to indefinitely delay their
reaching harmonious conclusion. and
the result is that they are as far from
an agreement among themselves as
they have ever been.
Advices received at the state depart
ment show very clearly that the ten
dency OF some of the European govern
ments is to pile up their claims for
tho expense of their expeditions and
indemnity for themselves and their
subjects to such figures as will make
a total which the Chinese government
cannot possibly undertake to pay. At
the same time there is a cry for blood
vengeance which demands the decapi-
tatiOn of princes and high officials in
such numbers as would insure the over
throw of any government that endeav-
ored or even promised. 10 meet it.
The source of these demands and
their character seem to give full war
rant to the suspicion that they are ad-
vanced solely for the purpose of pre-
venting the successful conclusion OF
peace negotiations. thus furnishing an
excuse for the partition Of China. The
conviction that this is the end sought
by Germany. and. perhaps. some 9TH
ers, has compelled this government to
make one last desperate effort to bring
about harmonious action among the
powers upon some sensible and pOssi-
bic programme.
The most necessary step, as it seems
to impartial observers. is to remove
the scene Of negotiations from Pekin.
Whether it is true or not that the min
listers who went through the siege are
incapable of taking a judicial view OF
the different questions with which they
have TO contend. il has certainly be-
come evident that there is no chance
Of securing the desired results through
the conferences at Pekin. Another
set of negotiators meeting at Washing
ton. as has been suggested. or at some
one OF the capitals Of Europe, would
be much more likely to get together
upon some demand which the Chinese
government could meet
If. therefore Germany. Great Brit
ain Russia and the others are sincere
in their declarations in behalf Of the
entity OF the Chinese empire, they have
| chance to demonstrate that sincerity
| by meeting the suggestions made by
| this government in its last note. So
/ eminently fair is the proposition. that
/ they cannot well decline it without
/ completely exposing their insincerity
! i'm the protestations they have been
making.