The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-07
American DIPLOMACY
CARRIED THE Day.
AGREEMENT FOR SETTLEMENT OF
CHINA QUESTION REACHED.
II II Based Upon the suggestions
Originally Made by Secretary
Hay-An Powers Save One Have
Notified Representatives to sign.

CHICAGO. Dec GA special to the
Times Herald from Washington says:
American diplomacy leads the world.
The great powers have practically reached
an agreement as to the basis of future
movements in China. and this basis is
that which was proposed by Secretary
Hay.
Secretary Hay has cabled Minister Con-
ger to sign for the United States an agree
ment which the ministers reached at Pc
king. This agreement was sent to the
home governments for their approval, and
with a single exception every power has
already cabled its representative at Pc
King TO sign the agreement, and that
power will probably do so tomorrow or
the next day.
Thus the concert of the powers Is pre-
served and a practical and rational basis
of settlement has been reached at last
thanks to the skill and firmness of the
American secretary of state.
Features OF Agreement.
The chief features of the agreement are
as follows.
1t is stipulated that the punishments to
be melted out to guilty Chinese are as SCI
we're as II is possible for the Chinese gov
eminent to administer. but not more Sc
we're. The government of China Is not
to be asked to do the impossible.
1t is expected that under this obligation
the government will punish severely
eleven ringieaders in the attacks upon the
legations and in the Indictment OF anti
foreign outrages. Some OF these will be
beheaded. Others will be banished or de-
graded
III Great Britain and Germany had been
permitted to have their way the dynasty
would have been compelled to agree TO
behead men who are beyond the reach of
the emperor's governuent-men who are
in the western provinces and In command
of military forces sufficient to protect
them. Secretary Hay has from the first
commended that while in justice all these
heads should be taken of, 1t is necessary
to catch your hare before cooking him.
and that it was simply absurd to require
the Chinese government to decapitate men
whom It could not get hold OF. These
guilty officials will be banished and de-
graded, and thus II will be made impos-
sshse for them TO return to positions Of
power.
Liability for Damages.
1t is stipulated in the agreement that the
Chinese government is to formally admit
its liability to the powers for damages
and for the expense OF military opera
lions. This done. the amount of indemnity
to be paid each nation Is to be ascsrtained
afterward by means OF careful inquiries
and estimates.
phis part of the plan will require much
time, and while, of course, Il will give rise
TO opportunities for trouble-making pow
ers to precipitate new complications. II Is
felt that a great point has been gained by
making the amount Of indemnity sub
ject Of negotiations. as 1t should be- rath-
err than a preliminary condition.
Other features OF the agreement pertain
to the legation guards to be kept at Pc
king. to the razing of the Picking forts and
other military precautions similar to those
proposed by the French government a
month ago.
To all these conditions II IL understood
Ii Hung Chang and Prince Ching. repre-
senting the emperor, are willing to ac-
cede.
In official and diplomatic circles here the
belief Is expressed that n great. step for
ward has been taken and that again there
Is good prospect OF an adjustment OF the
seemingly amending complications with
out ACKNOWLEDGMENT and without destruc-
ton OF the dynasty.
The agreement now reached points to an
early military evacuation OF Picking and a
return OF the court to that capital