The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-29
CHINA REPLIES.
Acknowledges Receipt of the
Powers Joint Note.
Asks Five Questions Regarding
the Terms offered.

New York, Dec. ga dispatch to the
Herald from Pelkin says:
A note was received last evening from
the imperial court at ST Ngan Flu ac-
knowledging the receipts of the demands
of the powers. It further contained
five questions, or requests. namely:
First-Might not the Taku forts re-
main standing, though dismantled?
Seconds it proposed to behead
princes the same as other offenders2
Third-If the demands are acceded to,
would the allies cease sending out ex-
petitions?
Fourth-what places do the allies pro-
pose to occupy?
Fifth-How long do they propose to
occupy them?
NEW EMPEROR CHOSEN.
London Dec. 29.-Private advices from
the province of Shansi say, wires the
Shanghai correspondent of the Stand
ard, .that while the court was sojourn-
ing at Tai Yuen Flu, the emperor dow
ager appointed a new emperor, with
the title Ting Hsu. He is a 15-year-old
boy. who was taken to Sian Flu in the
imperial yellow chair This explains
the permission given to Emperor Kwang
Su to return to Pelin-
Fnpa"or KWang Su has notified the
reforrL Darty that he is returning to the
capitaE.and will need their assistance
QUESTIONS PERFECTLY NATURAL
Washington, Dec. 29.-It is recognized
by the officials here as a. perfectly nat
urat course on the part of the Chinese
government to ask for explanations OF
the important points in the agreement
reached by the ministers at Pekin. So
they are not surprised to hear now that
before blindly accepting the agreement
as binding upon it, the Chinese court
wishes for some definite statement as to
what Chinese cities are to be occupied,
how long the occupation is to continue,
the princes are to be beheaded and
whether the Taku forts are to be razed
or whether dismantlement Will not suf-
fee.
1t is a fact that our government has
from the beginning of the negotiations
taken an attitude on these five points OF
inquiry closely corresponding to what
it is supposed the Chinese government
has assumed IS a basis of putting them.
Our government does not desire the alb
SoIute demolishment of the Taku forts;
it will suffice for our purposes, having IN
mind a temporary stay IN China that
should be rendered harmless by disman-
tlement to prevent the ready access to
the Chinese capital of any force which Il
might be necessary to send from Eur
ope and America in the improbable
event the Chinese government fails 10
live up to the obligations it will assume
under the agreement. Feeling that the
Chinese government should be given a
suitable opportunity to demonstrate its
good faith, our government has seen no
necessary occupation between the Pel6in
and the sea-
There is no question in the mind of
our government as to the extreme un-
wisdom of continuing the sending out
from Pekin of punitive expeditions,
which the Chinese government desires
discontinued. So decided has been the
objection of our government to the con-
tinuance of these military movements,
which in its opinion have done much to
prevent the Chinese authorities from
raj f-fx riY7fr ont cre1r Vlf IN
maintain order and insure safety of for
eigners, that the United States has been
nearly at the point Of Withdrawing from
the concert. On the last point, namely
as to whether the Chinese princes were
to be beheaded, our governments posi-
ton remains unaltered 1t simply de-
mands that the Chinese government
shall infiict upon the offending leaders
whether princes or mandarinS or peas
ants, the Severest possible punishment
The answers to the Chinese questions
turn upon the understanding given to
the word possible 1t is conceivable
that the Chinese government may find
it absolutely impossible to behead a
prince. The result Of the effort might
be to overthrow the dynasty, destroy
the government itself, and plunge the
country into chaos. 1t is a question Of
fact to be decided.
Meanwhile it 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 to be supposed that the allies,
in view OF their union upon the use
of the word t'irrevOca Il" as applied to
the agreement. would tolerate unneces-
sary delay on the part of the Chinese
government in acting upon the agree
ment. but upon inquiry 1t appears to be
reasonable at least in the eyes Of our
government, that there can scarcely be
a valid objection to their consideration.