Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-29

II is recognized by the officials here as a
perfectly natural course on the part OF the
Chinese government to ask for explana-
tons of the important points in the agree
ment reached by the ministers at Pekin.
So they are not surprised to hear now that
before blindly accepting the agreement as
binding upon 1t the Chinese court wishes for
some definite statement as to what Chinese
cities are to be occupied. how long the oc-
cGpation is to continue: whether it is an
absolute condition that the princes are to
be beheaded. AMI whether the Taku forts
are to be razed or whether dismantlement
viii not suffice.
This Governments Attitude.
1t is fact that our government has from
ths beginning of the negotiations taken an
attitude en- these five points of inquiry
closely corresponding to that which it Is
supposed the Chinese government has as
sumed as basis of putting them.
Our government does not desire the alb
sClute demolition of the Taku forts: ii will
suffice for our purposes, having in mind a
temporary stay in China, that they should
t- rendered harmless by dismantlement to
prevent the ready access TO the Chinese
capital of any force which it might be
I"ceSsary to send from Europe and Amer
lea in the improbable event that tie Chi
Iese government fails to live up to the
Obligations it VIII assume under the agree
ment. Feeling that the Chinese govern
n-'lllt should be given suitable OppOrtun-
ity to demonstrate its good faith, our gov
erEment has seen no necessity for con-
tiEued occupation of sO-called strategic
points along the line of communication Le-
tween Pekin and the sea
Ihere Is no question, in the mind of our
government as to the extreme unWisdom Of
continuing the sending out from fekin Of
ldnitive expeditions, which the Chinese
government desires discontinued. So de-
"-ded has been the objection of our govern
n Mt to the continuance of these mill Itary
nAements, which in its opinion have done
much to prevent the Chinese author. les
iIom carrying out their engagements to
maintain order and insure the safety of
foreigners, that the United States has been
nearly at the point Of Withdrawing from
The concert.
Punishment of the Princes.
ON the last point, namely, as to whether
the Chinese princes were to be beheaded,
our governments position remained unal-
tered. 1t simply demands that the Chinese
government shah inf1ict upon the offending
leaders, whether princes or mandarins or
peasants, the severest possible punishment
The answers to the Chinese question turn
upon the understanding given to the word
possible" 1t is corceivable that the Chi
Hesc government may find it absolutely i'm
possible TO behead prince. The result Of
the effort might be 10 overthrow the dy
rasty.> destroy the government Itself and
purge the country into a renewed chaos
Il Is q question OF fact to be decided.
More Delay Than Was Expected.
Meanwhile 1t begins to appear from the
character of the Chinese response that there
may be more time consumed in securing a
final acceptance of the agreement than was
at first expected 1t was not 10 be supposed
tEat the allies. IN view Of their union upon
the use of the word 'irrevocable," as ap-
pied to the agreement, would tolerate un-
necessary delay on the part of the Chinese
government in acting upon the agreement
but the inquiries made appear to be 50 rea-
sOnable, at least in the eyes of our govern
ment. that there can scarcely be a valid
election 10 their consideration.
Reported Change of Emperors
The Chinese minister had not returned
this morning from his trip to Montclatr. N
j., and the officials Of the Chinese Iegation
had RECEIVED no information concerning the
reported selection of a new emperor or Of
the reply said to have been made by the
Chinese enyoys on the demands of the
fowers.
The State Department is also uniform
ed OF the reported change of emperors and
In view of the silence of the ministers the
report Is received with considerable skepti-
s!Sm. The Chinese officials are unacqua mt
Ell with the lineage of the youth said to
have been chosen by the empress dowager
FOR the throne. Some months ago the en-
press dowager designated the young son
Of Prince Tuan as the successor of kwang
Su. Although the name given in the dis
Patches as that of the new successor diff
fers from the one named by the empress
dowager some time ago, they may be one
and the same, as imperial names refer to
the dynasties and change on appoint tment
to theIhrone. that Of kwans Su being diff
ferent from the name ne bore before he
be confirmed 1t would doubtless be regard
ell by the powers as a hlgh-handed act,
and one not likely to be countenanced.
The Law of succes.ion.
In the present condition of affairs such q
Procedure by the empress dowager would
be an offense against China as well az the
powers Under the ancient system Of
China the emperor is able to name his sue
cessoS at times going outside Of the i'm
ptrial family, although under the present
dynasty 1t has been the custom to desig-
nate the son and heir successor. or In
the absence Of a son to select member Of
TIE imperial family. Kwang Su is the
nephew of the former emperor. who had
no sons and designated the youthful
nephey. to succeed him. But in the recent
disturbed conditions of the empire the an
cieut usages appear to have been lost sight
Of and in September, 1898. the empress
dowager executed a coup detat and took
the reins Of government in her own hands,
Practically displacing the emperor. Later
the empress dowager named the young son
OF Prinee Tuan as the successor to the
throne and now, according to the press
DISPATCHES, the empress dowager has dis
placed the emperor wiki a new successor.
The previous acts of the empress dow
ager have not been such as would permit
In in.eryention by the powers, although the
euperor has made appeals 10 Great Britain
and other countries 10 uphold his ancient
prerogSAves.
Attitude of the Powers.
But with the powers operating in China
II Ls not likely that they will permit a
further exercise of the empress dowagers
Influence, particularly II it takes the OBJ
noxioue form of seeking to confer power
OIL son OF the Prince Tuan. the chief con-
sprrator in the Boxer disturbance. Besides
the specific demands made by the powers
On China IL is well known that the govern
ments and their ministers at Pekin have
for some time been considering means of
overcoming the sinister influence of the
enpreA dowager by excluding her from Pc
Kin and from all further participation in