The true northerner., 1900-12-21
ANOTHER MUDDLE
Between England and America in
the Chinese Matter.
A LONG CONFERENCE HELD


Although Reports Obtained Varied
iderably-England ano America
Were in Accord.
London. Dec. l9.-Mr Choate. the
United States ambassador. had a long
conference Tuesday afternoon regard.
ing the Chinese situation with the sec
retary of state for foreign affairs, the
Marquis of Lansdowne, and subse.
quently Mr.. Henry White, secretary of
the United States embassy, paid a Wis
it to the foreign office. The greatest
secrecy is maintained as to the out
come of these consultations. What
could be learned from British and
American sources varied considerably
the former expressing annoyance and
anxiety, the latter maintaining that
nothing serious was developing. Some
explanation, however, was gathered
by a representative of the Associated
Press of the extraordinary tangle in
which Chinese negotiations have re-
Gently been mixed up and some recon
ciliation of the contradictory kilograms
that have emanated from Pekin and
various European capitals.
1t appears that over a week ago the
powers came TO an agreement to elm
mate the word "irrevocable" from the
joint note. Then, when il was believed
that everything had been settled OBJ
jections were raised and Great Britain
for the sake of harmony, although
much against her WILL agreed to rein
sert the "irrevocable" clause In this
it is believed she was supported by
the United States.
Once more the joint note seemed on
the verge of signature, when misun.
derstanding arose in Pekin. This con.
fused the governments and formed
the subject of the dispatches from Sec.
retary Hay which Mr.. Choate trans
mitted to the Marquis of Lansdowne
Tuesday. AS the result of the inter
view Mr.. Choate has sent long cable
gram TO Secretary Hay. in which he
attributes the latest misunderstanding
to an error IN forwarding instructions,
an error which occurred presumably
through the cable company and which
tow. British minister in Pekin, to take
opposite views, although their home
governments were perfectly agreed.
The United States embassy, while
non-committal, hopes that Tuesdays
conferences will clear up the muddle
and bring about a signing of the joint
note in Pekin within a few days.
On the other hand, the British for.
eign office is not quite so hopeful. Of
ficials there profess to be rather at
sea as to whether the conditions are
to be irrevocable or otherwise. Indi-
cations point to their being irre-
vocable.
British officials admit that they gave
in under protest and with a distinct
reservation that although the demands
are irrevocable, this in no way neces-
states an enforcement of the demands
by European troops. To such course
Great Britain cannot and will not
agree.
Consequently compliance with the
irrevocable clause will be somewhat
of farce on the part of Great Britain,
and this feature of the case becomes
more interesting when taken in con-
junction with the statement authori-
tatively made here that Great Britain
and the United States are in the same
boat in the Joint note negotiations.
Pekin. Dec. 19.-Count Won Walder-
see has issued an order assigning va
rious districts in the neighborhood Of
Pekin for supervision TO the military
representatives of the various powers
The order says that the extent to
which the cooperation of the French
and American troops can be depended
upon is a matter to he determined by
agreements made with the generals
commanding these forces.
Under the plan the United States
troons will supervise the district
southeast of Pekin from the road to
Tshang Tshang TO the road extending
from Nal1u Krin TO Ho 81 WI.
Count Won Waldersee says he knows
there is considerable force of Chi
nese under Gen Ma in the northern
part OF the province of Shang 81 and
others south of Tshang Tshang; but
during the severe winter that has now
sat in he does not expect any aggres-
sive Chinese movement.
On the other hand, wherever the al
lies leave a district for any length OF
time. bands of robbers and boxers will
For this reason the field
marshal desires the cooperation of all
the allies to cover the various dis
tricts with strong patrols. II is now
that a meeting CT the for
eign ENJOYS will be held on Wednes-
dov