The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-20
LAND OR NOTHING
United States May. Quit China
Empty Handed.

New York, Nov. 20.-The China nego-
tiations, according to a dispatch to the
Times from Washington, have reached a
most serious stage. The actions of the
powers are making partition almost in
evitable. The United States faces the
probability that it will either have to
take a slice of China or go without any
indemnity. In that case, it is positively
asserted by high authorities that the
United States will go without indern-
nifty
The United States may succeed in re-
ducing the demands of other powers,
and is now making every effort to that
end, but with no immediate prospect of
success.
Every nation has disavewed any in
tention of Remembering China but that
merely relates to ACKNOWLEDGMENT as a
punishment for the boxer outrages. No
nation has pledged itself to avoid taking
course which will sooner or later make
ACKNOWLEDGMENT inevitable. 1t is be-
lieved in official circles in Washington
that the powers are proceeding DELHI
erately with the intention of bringing
about a situation which will compel
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The whole question hinges on the
amount of money indemnity to be de-
n1anded. While the United States has
not officially set a maximum figure for
the indemnity it is the unofficial opinion
of some of the highest officers of the
China can pay. The powers are desi-
rous of swelling the indemnity to at least
twice that amount.
Two courses are considered for the
payment Of this large indemnity. Each
is innocent on its face, but both mean
partition and the American government
is so sure of it that as soon as the
powers adopt either course this country
will retire from the concert and lose all
but a faint chance of ever recovering
any indemnity.
One course is to exact territorial
pledges This is the same thing as par
tition, for it simply means a mortgage
which is certain to be foreclosed. The
United States will not have any thing
to do with this scheme.
The other plan is to have China issue
bonds, guaranteed by the powers. This,
in the opinion of the American govern
ment, means partition just as surely as
the first scheme. The bond holders
would have recourse to the guarantors,
who could not fulfill their guarantees ex-
cept by taking territory. Partition by
this means may appear thing of the
distant future, but high official of the
government has recently given 1t as his
deliberate opinion that the bond scheme
would bring about partition almost as
soon as the other. The United States
will not guarantee any bonds How the
United States can collect its indemnity
if it does stay out is mystery. The
government officials frankly give up
the conundrum. The United States win
not, of course, surrender its claim and
give China a receipt in full. 1t will en-
deavor in every way possible to get its
indemnity but there is no way open in
the immediate future, if the powers
carry out their plans.
The United States has therefore only
one way Of getting indemnity. That is
by inducing the other powers to reduce
their demands to an indemnity which
China is able to pay. The administra-
ton is hopeful of success, but so far it
has made no progress and the chances
seem to be all against it.
The United States spent about $20,000,-
600 on going to Pekin and this country's
demand for damage to person and prop
erty may range from 10000. 600 to $20,-
GOO, 900. Buts the other powers are ac-
lively swelling their expenses as much
as possible