The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-21
ARBITRATION THE ONLY SOLU-
TION

TEON.
The full meaning Of the term "Chinese
puzzle" was never generally understood
until within the last six months: and it
seems that even now the world is not
fully alive to the intricacies of the Chi
nese puzzle now in the hands of the
powers.
Whether this puzzle can be worked out
peacefully by diplomatic agencies, or
whether war alone is capable of unrav-
cling the tangled skein, is the cues
ton that is today confronting civiIiza-
ton.
So varid and far-reaehing are the ma
t1onal interests involved in the settle
ment, that an agreement among the rem
resentatives of the powers is next to an
inpossibility. An attempt by one or more
OF the interested powers to force upon
China their claims would end in a gen
eral conflict which would involve direct
ly or indirectly the great powers of the
earth. Since the relief of the Iegationers
and the occupation of Pekin, there has
been little progress made toward an ad-
Justment of the situation. A few leaders
OF the Boxer rebellion have been exeeut-
ed, but the crucial point--the adjustment
OF the claims of the powers against
Ch1na-has not been approached. I'm
der the present arrangement there is M
basis on which to begin. The representa-
tlves OF the powers have no authority
10 act but as advisors of their govern
| ment. The amount of damages demanded
by certain powers is so grossly extortion-
ate that they will meet with not only +ba
determined opposition of China, but Of
| the other powers also. GERMANY
leads the list with demand for $50 ooo
GOO, and the claim is not vet comn1a+a
Inc United States would like s25, 600 OO3.
but even this would be subject TO CHANGE
upon showing of the amount which
China will be able to nav
On the other hand China will bavo
counter claim against the powers ard
especially against Germany on account
OF the punitive expeditions which have
oeen sent out to loot and burn the tnoe-
fensive Villages. More unarmed Chinese
nave been murdered by the allied troops
since the occupation of Pekin than
would be necessary, on the theory of
life for life, to balance the acco,,n+
against the Boxers for the death of all
| missionaries and converted natives For
these wanton ravages under the d;rec-
| ton of the commanders of the alias
| China has a just claim for Commemorative
against the powers, whose troops were
particeps criminis. VIII the powers in
their individual capacity acknowledges
| this counter claim against themselves
alent TO condemning their military acts.
! There is only one thing to be done
only one way to work the puzzle that
| justice may be done, and that is to sub.
nit the whole matter to the high court
| OF arbitration at The Hague If this be
done, the peace convention which opened
with so much promise and which ended
| in the establishment of a court Of inter
national arbitration, nothing more. will
have accomplished an end worthy of the
| ambitious name it bore.
Every foreign soldier except the Iega-
ton guards should be removed from Pc
| kin. The Chinese court should be in
vited to return and take up the broken
thread OF government; the conflicting in
terests OF the powers should be submitted
to that civil tribunal and all rights de-
termined, not as between the conqueror
and the conquered, but as between
friendly nations among which there have
been mutual wrongs
This is a case for concession and COM
promise, not one for redress and retalia-