The times., 1900-12-24
TO Be PRESENTED TODAY
The Joint Note Signed by the Min
listers of the Powers.
The Credentials of Ii and ChinS Per-
fected by the Attachment of the
Imperial Senl-Indcmnity Paid by
natives to the BOARD of Foreign
MissiOns-Hcnyy Fines in Addition.

PEKIN, Dec. 22-(S:3O p. m.).-The joint
note containing the demands of the Pow
ers has at last been signed by the various
| representatives and the Chinese commits
sioners, Ii Hung Chang and Prince Ching.
| have been notified that 1t will be presented
| to them at the Spanish legation on Mon
day. Those who are closest to the Chi
nese predict that an agreement will be
reached within two weeks after the pre-
sentation OF the note
The Chinese commissioners have noti-
fed the Ministers that their credentials
from the Empress Dowager have been
perfected by the attachment of the i'm
perial seal. which was left in the imperial
city upon the occasion of the flight of
the court from the capital
The Rev. Mr. Ament. of the American
Board of Foreign Missions, has returned
from trip which he took for the pur-
pose of collecting indemnities for dam
ages done by Boxers. He visited seven
different parts of the country and every
where he compelled the Chinese TO pay.
now provided for.
whom 800 were killed. He has collected
300 taels for each of the Christians who
lost their lives and compelled full pay
ment for all the property belonging to
the Christians that was destroyed. He
also assessed fines amounting to thirteen
times the amount of the damage. This
money will be used for the propa cation
of the gospel. After repaying all the
damages Mr.. Ament has 1000 taeIs left,
which will be devoted to the support of
100 Chinese widows and their children.
He declares that the compensation he
has collected is moderate when it is com
pared with the amount secured by the
Catholics, who demand in addition to
money. head for head They collect 500
taeis per head for each Catholic who
was killed In the Wenehiu country $50
Catholics were killed and for this the
European Catholics here demand 750. 600
strings of cash and $50 heads. In the
course of conversation Mr.. Ament re-
ferred to the attitude Of the mission
aries toward the Chinese. He said:
Il deny emphatically that the mission
aaries are vindietive. that they generally
looted, or that they have done anything
since the siege that the circumstances
did not demand. I criticise the Americans.
The soft hand of the Americans is not as
good as the mailed fist of the Germans.
If you deal with the Chinese with a soft
hand they will take advantage of it."
Mr.. Ament reports that the Chinese are
friendly to the Americans. He states
of Ghap nj IF 70,
mans held up the head man on December
20. banged his head and demanded 3.oO0
taels and number of mules and carts.
Mr.. Ament intereeded in behalf of the
head man and the Germans were finally
satisfied with coo taels, all the official
had. The Germans came from Shanhai-
kwan, On the trip they had collected
1000 taels besides provisions, mules and
carts.
The question of the seizure by the Ger
mans of the Pekin clubhouse and property |
belonging thereto has been referred to the
Ministers Of II the Powers for settle /
mert. The value of the seized property
is 300 900 taels The clubhouse was the |
only meeting place for foreigners. Before |
the siege Baron Won Ketteler the German |
Minister, who was subsequently, murdered. |
asked for the use Of one room in which |
he desired to lodge soldiers. His request |
wis granted and in a short time the Ger |
tni ms seized the whole place. Lumber for |
a complete house was looted to repair the |
German Legation.
Although the clubhouse is not used |
now, Field Marshal Count Won Waldersee |
refuses TO surrender ii and refuses to pay |
for the material looted. This is one ex-
ample of the high -handedness with which /
the Germans are carrying things here |
The Ministers will consider the matter, !
because all the foreigners are interested |
in il.
The statement that the French Govern
ment Will return the loot taken by the
French soldiers, with the exception of
munitions OF war is the scfgrce of the
greatest amusement here. The French
soldiers were more systematic looters
than the Germans, and il is fact that
today Catholic Christians. carrying
French flags and armed with modern
guns are footing villages in the province
of Chilli.
NEW HoNoRs FOR sHENG.