The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-22
BUT DELAY is DANGEROUS
The Spirit of Unrest Grows Daily
in China.
"IRREvOCABLE" CONDITIONS A FARCE
United States Troops Win Not Again be Called
Into China For the Purpose Of 0ccupa-
ton. Germans Continue to
Kill the Natives.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, Dec. 21.-The State De-
partent today instructed Mr.. Conger, at
Pekin to sign the agreement, which ac-
cording to- Pekin advices, already has been
signed by all of the other ministers at
the Chinese capital. This instruction is
sent with some reluctance. Because the
agreement as it now stands does not COM
pletely represent the views of the United
States Government. But it is believed to
be the most favorable compromise that
could be reached, unless the negotiations
are to be drawn out to a dangerous
length; for all reports indicate growing
spirit of unrest in China, owing to the
absence of any form of native government
in Chi Ii and the adjacent provinces. So
the United States accepts the "irrevoca-
ble'' condition imposed upon the Chinese
Government, though after all, this express
sion is rather a matter of form than of
substance, for diplomacy knows no such
thing as an 'irrevocable' condition
AS to the British condition that the
occupation of Pekin and Chi Lii is to con-
tinue until China has given satisfactory
proofs of her intention to comply with
the conditions laid down in the agree.
ment, ut is said, that this will not af-
feet the status of the United States. Mr..
Conger has, by direction cf his Govern
ment. notified the other ministers, that
the United States forces will not again
be called into China for the purpose OF
occupation, that nothing more than a Ie-
cation guard is to be maintained by us,
and the powers have accepted his con-
dition.
1t is therefore expected here that the
It'll ~.
of the current week.
Secretary Hays action in instructing
Mr. Conger to sign the joint note was
approved by the Cabinet at the meeting
todav.
The agreement signed at Pekin naming
preliminary conditions to peace negotia-
tions contains a demand for the severest
penalties that China can impose in the
punishment of the high officials believed
to be responsible for the Boxer outrages
This refers particularly to the eleven
prominent Chinese mobiles whose names
have been mentioned in the press dis
patches as those whom some of the ma
tions contended should be executed. Our
Government has persistently held to the
position that penalties should not be in
ficted on the Chinese Government, which
she was unable to carry out. The demand
for the death penalties was stricken out
of the agreement and that for the severest
penalties possible inserted.
The agreement probably will be made
public here tomorrow if word reaches
Washington that Mr.. Conger has affixed
his signature to it.
GUENDELL DEFEATS THE BOXERS.
Berlin, Dec. 21.-A dispatch from Field
Marshall Won Waldersee, dated Pekin, De-
csmber 10Th says:
"Guendell's column, marching from
Shan Hal Kuan, successfully encountered
a force of Boxers, December 14th at
Yung Ling, near the Eastern Imperial
Tombs Fifteen Boxers were killed.
''One thousand Chinese regulars, under
Fang Do Ling, have been driven out of
Lu Tai. They fled to the mountains,
northwesterly on Guendell's approach"