The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-10-05
POWERS NEARING an
AGREEMENT ON CHINA

Washington, Oct 4-Propositions of
far-reaching character concerning
China are being presented in rapid
succession to this government. The
state department had no sooner dis
posed of one of these propositions to-
day by delivering a response TO the
| German government than it was con-
fronted by an even more important
proposition submitted by the French
government and within half an hour
/ formally seconded by the Russian gov
ernment.
/ The arswer to Germany covered the
subject of Furnishing Chinese subjects
and made known that the United
States had Instructed Minister Conger
along the lines suggested by Germany.
| These instructions look toward secur-
| ing the names of the persons deserv-
ing chastisement; also whether the
punishments accord with the gravity
| OF the crimes committed, and finally
| in what manner the United States I'D
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 establishing satisfactory re-
/ latiOns between the governments at
Washington and Berlin
The Franco Russian proposal takes
a much broader scope and submits a
programme under which the negOtia-
lions for a complete settlement can be
carried forward. The French charge,
NJ. Thiebaut. handed the proposition to
Secretary Hay shortly after noon to-
day and held a brief conference con-
/ corning it. Half an hour later M De
valiant, the Russian charge, arrived
at the state department and handed
to Mr. Hay a cable expressing Russian
approval of the propositions just sub
mitted by France. Mr. Hay gave no
/ formal answer to the two communica-
tons. as they viii go first to the presi-
] dent at Canton.
The Franco Russian proposition is
under four heads. namely: First. pun
/ ishment of the guilty parties; second,
( Introduction of the shipment of arms
into China; third. payment of indem-
nifty 10 the powers, and fourth. Suf-
! ficient guarantees for the future.
In addition a suggestion is made for
the establishment of a permanent lega-
ton guard at Pekin. fer the razing of
the Taku forts and for the mainte-
nance of a line of communication be-
tween Pekin and the sea
| Possible American Course.
The impression here. in advance of
action on these propositions by the
American government, is that they
contain nothing essentially uniting
them to be subjects of consideration in
a 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 subject of guarantees and per
haps that of indemnity.
As to the Introduction of arms. the
state department already has intimated
that there may be a question as to its
wisdom. and there IS reason to be-
lieve also that Germany viii not view
that particular feature with approval.
But there appears to be good reason
to expect that middle ground will be
/ reached by combining the Introduction
of arms to a specified period, possibly
to be fixed by the time required by
China within which to pay the indem-
nifty.
The chief objection to the proposition
is in it's being permanent in its present
form. What the United States gov
eminent particularly desires to avoid
is the entering into of a programme
/ that leans in any manner toward the
maintenance of a fOothold on Chinese
soil. and il the other propositions rel
alive to the maintenance of line of
free and safe cOmmunica ton between
Pekin and the sea and to the legation
guards could be modified in the direc-
| ton of temporary expedients they
will be more likely to receive the sun
port Of our government. Tt is appar-
ent from the cOmplexity of the latest
Franco Russian proposal that the
phase of negotiations thus initiated
will take some time to dispose of.
Text Of Reply to Germany.
Following is the text of the American
reply to the German note, delivered
today by Secretary Hay to Baron
Sternberg, the German charge daft
fairies.
The Secretary of State to the Imper-
ial German Charge:
Memorandum in response to the in
quiries made of the secretary OF state
October. 1900, by the imperial German
charge aHalres, touching the Chi