Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-09-13
BELIEVED CHINESE PROBLEM IS
NEARING SETTLEMENT.
Significant Conference Held at State
Department Behind Closed Doors
Personnel of Peace Commission
Being Considered-Little News
Comes From China


returned to Washington from Cape
May yesterday. He proceeded directly
to the state department, where he was
closeted nearly an hour with Acting
Secretary Adee and Assistant secretary
Hill, the door being locked and not
even messengers allowed TO enter.
None of the parties to the conference
was communicative as to the matters
discussed, and at its conclusion Hill
repaired to the white house, with a.
portfolio well filled with papers. For
several hours preceding the minister S
visit Hill and Adee were engaged in
short conferences, and it was gathered
that the negotiations relative to China
were approaching another phase, ana
that an important pronoun2 nent OF
some kind was in preparation. The
fact was recalled that when the United
States made It's response to tie Rus
sian note on the goth, officials lere ex-
pressed the belief that weel time
would be required to determine upon
the next STEP and that at the end OF
that time it would be definitely known
whether or not the troops were to be
Withdrawn from Pekin.
That period OF time has nov elapsed,
and reports from European lancet
tories indicate that, officially Ct least,
tns important subject is being treated
with the greatest deliberation, and that
at least another week, and probably
even more time, may be consumed In
framing the last of the answers to the
Russian note. Meanwhile our govern
ment is pretty well satisfied with itself
as to the attitude towards this last
proposition of each and all OF the pow
ers interested in the Chinese problem.
1t may be that this knowledge is re-
garded as sufficient upon which TO base
another forward, and perhaps in this
case, independent movement by the
United States towards the ultimate
withdrawal of the troops and the set
tlement with China which the govern
ment has had in mind since the begin
ming OF the trouble.
The consultations with Minister Wa
are believed TO have been Inspired by a
desire to learn something personally OF
the Chinese notables whose u-nes are
suggested as proper to constitute
Chinese peace commission. mere is
much speculation here as to the per-
sonnet OF the American commission
ers, in case the peace negotiations
Mould be entrusted to such a body, and
the names Of men prominent in inter
national affairs in recent years have all
been eanvassed Included in the list is
the name Of Gen. John w Foster, but
Il is regarded as much more probable
that If he appears at all in these nego-
tiations it viii be in his old place as
representative Of the Chinese govern
ment. He was associated with LII
Hung Chang during the peace negoti-
ations which closed the Chinese-Japan-
ese war.
There was 4 dearth of Official intor-
nation from China yesterday. Chaifee
sent a dispatch from Pekin indicating
that couriers are still employed TO
close the gap in the line OF communica-
lion between Tientsin and pekin. This
dispatch made 10 mention Of the mill
tary situation and 1t was inferred that
affairs in Pekin remain quiet.
France Would withdraw,
washington, Sept. S.-The latest ex-
preston as to the attitude Of the pow
crs on the evacuation Of Pekn comes
from Ambassador Porter at Paris, stat
ing that the attitude Of the French gov
eminent is favorable to The position
taken by Russia. The German and
French answers clearly indicate the
alignment of the powers. 1t is gener-
ally accepted that Germans attitude in
favor OF remaining at pekin will be
concurrel in by Italy and Austria,
Little doubt Is entertained that since
Germany has taken the initiative Great
Britain viii follow suit in favor OF re-
naming at Pekin. The position az ia.
pan likewise is lacking in defniteness.
although it is believed In the best in
formed quarters that II other nations
remain at Pekin Japan will deem it ex-
pedient to remain there also Thus far
Russia has not expressed any purpose
OF modifying her original position. II
was announced today that Russia had
not ordered the departure Of her min
lister or troops from Pekin UP to this
time.
The total force Of the allies in Pekin
is now about 10000 men and il is
pointed out that the situation at the
Chinese capital might make it unsafe
for a force much smaller than that to
attempt 70 preserve order Pekin's
immense population and the disturbed
condition in the opinion 81 the officials
here. make it hazardous for the powers
10 leave only small forces there,
Waldersee at Colombo.
Colombo, sept. S.--Count Won Wal
dersee. commaL 5er-in-chief of the al
lied troops in China, arrived here yes
terday morning.
DIAMONDS IN HAWAII
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