The age-herald., 1900-10-05
France Presents a Plan of Set
 tIement.
RUSSIA LENDS HER ENDORSEMENT
The French Note Take Broader Scope and Submits a Complete Pro- gramme-Question WI i,h
 May Cause Trouble

a far-reachng character concerning China are being presented in rapid succession to this government. The State Department had no sooner disposed of one of these propositions today by delivering response to the German government than it was confronted by an even more important proposition submitted by the French goy- ernment and within half an hour formally seconded by the Russian government.
 The answer to Germany covered the sub ject of punishing Chinese offenders and made known the fact that the United States had instructed Minister Conger along the lines suggested by Germany. These in- structions look towards securing the names of the persons deserving reinstatement, also whether the punishment accorded with the gravity of the crimes committed and, final ly, in what manner the United States and the other powers are to be assured that satisfactory punishment Is inflicted. Aside from these specific purposes of the note. it is regarded as important chiefly in estab- fishing the most satisfactory relations be- tween the governments at Washington and Berlin.
 The Franco-Russian proposal takes a much broader scope and submits a pro gramme under which the negotiations for complete settlement can be carried for
 ward. The French charge, M. Thiebaut, | banded the proposition to Secretary Hay today and held brief conference concern- ing it. Half an hour later M. De Wollant, the Russian charge, arrived at the State Department and handed to Mir Hay a note expressing Russian approval of the propo- sition just submitted by France
 The Franco-Russan propositions are un- der four heads, namely:
 First-Punishment of the guilty parties.
 Second-Interdiction of the shipment of arms into China.
 Thrd-Pdyment of indemnity to the powers.
 Fourth-Sufticient guarantees for the future.
 In addition suggestion is made for the establishment of a permanent legation guard at Pekin; for the raging of the Taku forts and for the maintenance of line of communication between Pekin and the sea. The impression here in advance of action on the propositions by our government is that they contain nothing, essentially un- fitting them to be subjects of considerations in final settlement. The difficulty which is likely to arise lies in the placing of proper limitations upon the scope of each head. This Is particularly true of the sub ject of guarantees and perhaps of that of indemnity. Still, as already suggested, each is undoubtedly most proper subject for discussion until the final negotiations are reached and therefore M. Delcasse's broad est propisitions, while likely to consume some time in reducing them to ultimate and binding form, may be said to have fair reception awaiting them.
 As to the interdiction of arms, the State Department already has intimated that and there is reason to believe also that Germany will not view that particular feature with approval. But there appears to be good reason to expect that a middle ground will be reached by conflning tho interdction of arms to a specified period, possibly to be fixed by the time required by China in which to pay the indemnity. The chief objection to the proposition is in its being permanent in Its present form.
 What the United States government par ticularly desires to avoid Is entering into a programme that leans in any manner to- wards the maintenance of a foothold on Chinese soil and If the other propositions relative to the maintenance of line or free and safe communication between Pe- kin and the sea and to the legation guards can be modified in the direction of tempo rary expedients they will be more likely 10 receive the support of our government. It is apparent from the complexity of the latest Franco Russian proposal that the phase of negotiations thus initiated VIII take some time to dispose of.