The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-10
Also Minister Conger's Message Civ
ing Names of Celestial Officials
Who Should BE Punished.
MINISTER WI STILL HOPEFUL
HE THINKS THE EMPEROR MAY YET
RETURN TO THE CAPITAL.
Confident the Court Can He Influenced
by Assurances Of Safety and
withdrawal of Allies.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 9.-President Nc
Kinley returned to Washington to-day and
held a Cabinet meeting, at which the
French note suggesting: % The prohibi-
ton of the importation Of arms into China,
CD the dismantling of the fortifications be-
tween Peking and the sea and CD the main-
tenance of legation guards at Peking, or
wherever the Chinese capital may be In the
future, was considered. The objection TO
the first of these propositions is that, while
it would prevent legitimate trade In arms.
1t would not prevent smuggling, and SO
would probably fail in its purpose. Even IL
it succeeded 1t might prove objectionable
in depriving the Chinese government Of the
means of suppressing ant-foreign and
other riotous disturbances. The objection
to the second proposition Is that it would
lower the prestige of the Chinese govern
ment at home and further weaken IL In its
efforts to enforce order and suppress law
less rowing bands. The objection TO the
third is that 1t would be expensive and
ought to be unnecessary. The answer de-
termined on will net be known until IL has
been delivered to the French Foreign Office.
1t developed to-day that Mr.. Conger, in
tary Hay, had submitted to the State De-
partment a list of ten or twelve names ~
Chinese officials who were prominent I'm the
Boxer movement against the foreigners
and i'm a great measure responsible for the
assaults on the legations in P,king. These
officials. Mr.. Conger now believes. should
be included with Prince Tuan and others
in any punishnients which are to be in
fiicted upon those who took a prominent
part in the Picking outrages. It is not
unlikely that the position of this govern
ment in regard to the punishment of these
officials will be stated I'm reply TO the
French note
NO CHANGE IN SITUATION.
Neither automatically nor from mill
tary point of view has there been any
change In the Chinese situation here since
the reception of the French note 1t is con-
ceded that the failure Of the effort to in
duce the Chinese court TO return TO Pek-
ing has done much to retard the peace
negotiations, although these are still possi-
bic If the authority conferred upon Ii
Hung Chang and Prince Ching is sufficient.
NJ. Thiebault. the French charge
c'affaires, called on Secretary Hay late I'm
the day, but learned that final action had
not yet been taken the French note, and
that II would be some days before the re-
sponse would be ready. The constitutional
questions involved require further time
for consideration.
In high diplomatic quarter the sugges-
tion was made to-day that the powers send
a special envoy TO Si-Ngan-Fu. the new
abode OF the imperial family with a coll
lective note urging the return OF the En-
peror to Peking and giving guarantees for
the personal safety OF the imperial house
hold. Such an envoy. IL was said. could
accomplish much more than the circuitous
negotiations through Chinese officials. The
suggestion also was made that Chan Chi
Tung. the viceroy OF one OF the southern
provinces. would be well qualified 10 exc
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