The age-herald., 1900-10-19
Basis for Conduct of the Peace
 Negotiations.
THE SITUATION GROWS BRIGHTER
French Proposal Appears to be Accept able to the Powers, and Will Pro- bably be One Selected-Ob-
 stacle Still in the Way

Washington, October 1S-For the first time in three days Minister Conger was heard from at the State Department to- day. He communicated by cable the sub- stance of certain propositions advanced by Prince Ching and Ii Hung Chang as basis for the conduct of negotiations for set- clement of the Chinese trouble.
 The Chinese government had already pre- pared the way for these by preliminary action looking toward the punishment of Chinese officials guilty of complicity in the Boxer uprising and, while the text of Mr. Conger's communication Is not made public. it is believed the last Chinese advice is ad- dressed to some of the propositions con- tained in the French note being in the nA- ture of counter proposals and proceeding upon the theory that what has been done in the matter of punishment is sufficient to meet the demands from the powers in that respect.
 It was learned at the State Department that MT. Conger's previous instructions fit him perfectly to deal with the new phase of the Chinese situation developed by the gen. eral acceptance of the French note as the basis for political action. Yesterday M. Thiebaut, the French charge here, called
 
 the Secretary of State the immediate in. stitution at PelSin of negotiations for set- tlement and 1t appears that the secretary then agreed to do his part His promise was made verbally, and 1t may not be reduced to writing at all, but MT. Conger is already acting in conformity herewith
 Most of the powers have accepted the French note with reservation, but 1t said .l,a tbaxy oil a her of points of the first magnitude to warrant the assembling of the diplomatic body at Pekin to begin the work of formulating ob- jects of common desire and reconoiling di- vergent views. It is probable that to this body will be referred the latest Chinese counter proposition received today by cable from MT Conger.
 Minister wu Calls
 Minister Wu called at the State Depart ment today by appointment and had long conference with Secretary Hay. The Sec retary previously had spent an hour with the President at the White House, pre- sumably In the consideration of Mr. Con- gers communication. It Is believed that Minister Wu was called to the department to throw light upon some of the detailed propositions.
 There is reason to believe that the gov- ernment will take favorable action on the latest proposition of the French govern ment, presented yesterday through the French charge d'affaires, M. Thiebaut. This contemplates the opening of peace negotiations on those points which the pow CTS are agreed upon, leaving to the minister at Pekin the details of working out fur ther agreement on those points which the powers made reservation upon.
 The basis of the negotiations would be the French note delivered on October 4, to- gether with the replies of the other pow xAalxA ttna1I 1Ixr frxra gotta tions going on at the same time, one concerning the points of agreement which would have to be adjusted in China, and the other by the ministers at Pekin with a view of securing an agreement previous to submitting 1t to China There Is felt no consistency in having this double work proceed concurrently, and 1t has the ad- vantage of getting the peace negotia tions actually under way
 In case of a favorable reply to France it Is probable that steps would have to be taken to designate plentipotentiaries for the powers, for up to this time Mir. Conger is acting only as minister and MT. Rock hill as commissioner to make inquiries, and there Is no authorization to either of them to conduct peace negotiations. Whether special plenipotentiaries would be named or additional powers given to MT. Conger or Mir Rockhill, is still undecided.
 About the most serious obstacle which stands in the way of immediate peace nego- tiations Is the absence Of the imperial au- thority from Pekin and the doubt this cre- ates as to full approval being given to the work of the Chinese plentipotentiaries. While the latter claim to have full creden- tials, yet the powers have looked upon the presence of the Emperor at Pekin almost indispensable requisite toward giv- ing the negotiations complete efficacy. The presence of the Emperor might have sig nicance beyond anything thus far brought out in the way of re-establshng his im- perial authority and freeing it from the in- trigues and anu-foreign influence which have for the last two years practically nu- lifted his rule.