Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-09-20
FRANCE AND RUSSIA
Decide to Proceed with Chinese
Peace Negotiations.
Apparently Will Pay No Attention to
Germany's Recent Note.
President Drafting Reply OF United States
Situation More Complicated.

Washington. Sept. 19.-With the Ger
man proposition to postpone peace ne
gotiations with China until the per-
sons responsible for the Pekin out
RACES are punished and the French
and Russian notification of the purpose
! Of those governments TO begin such
negotiations awaiting him, the Pres-
/ dent found much matter Of Importance
to dispose of upon his arrival in Wash
ingtOn from Canton. this morning. He
| lost 10 time in notifying the officials
whom he desired to consult on his re-
turn, and the day was largely given
up % private discussions.
Although il was stated that no an
sWer would be ready to the German
note, today, it appeared that the Presi-
dent, after talking over the situation
with Attorney General Griggs, Acting
Secretary Hill and Assistant Secretary
Adee, had arrived at a conclusion as
tp the nature Of the responses. Mr.
a Tee spent the afternoon consulting
Acting Secretary Hill and in drafting
the note Of response, but all informal
ton as to its contents was refused at
the state department. 1t was said that
the note i ID be gone over carefully
at a further meeting between the Pres
itent ana such OF his advisers as are
in the city
The German government, apparently,
Is anxious for a speedy answer. The
Chinese minister was also twice at the
state department, today. seeking to in
tiuence the government not to agree to
the joint action suggested in the Ger
man note.
The conclusion reached from the
days developments is that the powers
are dividing as to China, and that, at
present. Germany and Great Britain
stand aligned against France and Rus
STA. while both sides are ardently seek
ing the adherence Of the United States
government. The Chinese government
is urging the latter course upon the
state department, but thus far there
has been restraining forces in the de-
sire to avoid making the United States
the first Of the powers to break the
solid front that has been maintained
un to the present time in dealing with
China
The first definite determination to
begin peace negotiations with China
seems to have been reached by the
French ana Russian governments,
which have made known their purposes
to proceed with negotiations with Ii
Hung Chang and Prince Ching as soon
as feasible. This doubtless will have
an important influence on the present
negotiations which are Ringing to a
considerable extent on the opening Of
peace negotiations.
As France is acting with Russia, this
determination appears to remove any
prospect of a modification of the
Russo Franco determination to with
draw from Pekin. 1t also disposes Of
all questions as to the credentials Of
Ii Hung Chang and places France in a
position of being ready to proceed on
the credentials he has brought for
ward. II il is the purpose Of France
and Russia to begin peace negotiations.
it would follow that at least some Of
the great powers will not concur in
the German note requiring the sur
render Of the chief Chinese ringleaders
as an Indispensable prerequisite to the
opening Of negotiations. Whether there
is any connection between the German
note ana the Franco Russian conclu-
sion to so on with the negotiations is
purely conjecture. but it is probably
significant that they come at about the
same time.
Berlin. Sept. LIT is understood that
the immediate cause for issuing Ger
many's circular note to the powers re-
garding the Chinese settlement was the
fact that Iii Hung Chang, during his re-
cent interview with DR.. Mumm Won
Schwartzenstein. the German minister to
China, mentioned a number Of names of
alleged high mandarins. hitherto wholly
unknown, rs those responsible for the Pc
kin outraEcs. and said that China was
willing To punish them. This explanation
seems to be borne out by the following
statement by the German foreign office
today to the correspondent of The AssO-
ciated Press in Berlin:
What we want to avoid is an oppor-
tunitv for allowing China TO impose upon
us any sham concessions by delivering
up for punishment persons who had moth
ing to do with the Pekin atrocities. Hence
it is advisable for the representatives OF
the powers in China to designate before
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