The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-04-18
Indemnity Demands Announced by
the Powers.

SINCE INC peSihnlnS OF the negotla-
tions in Picking an authoritative
statement of the claims of the pow
ers against China has been an
nounced. The United States have
used their utmost efforts to diminish
these claims, as is shown by the very
modest claim presented, but without
signal success. The foreign office
authorizes the statement that the
Chinese indemnities for war expenses,
exclusive of the claims of private In
dividuals and missions, have been
fixed as follows: Russia, 360,000,000
marks (about $9O,OO0,000); France,
260,000,000 marks (about sos, 000, 000);
Germany, 240,00O,0OO marks (about
100000, Ooo); England, 9O,OoOooO marks
(about S22,5oo,ooO); United States,
100,000,000 marks (about $25, O00,0 O0).
France will also present claims for
the indemnity of the Italian mission.
America Proves a Friend.
Washington, April Is. China's
chance of being relieved of the bur-
den of grossly extortionate money
indemnity is apparently growing
brighter. The United States are now
being supported by Japan and Great
Britain in an effort to secure a gen.
eral scaling down of the claims of
the powers. Great Britain has pre-
sented claims amounting to only $685.
100000 and Japan's claim is said to be
only few million dollars more than
Great Britain. Germany, Austria and
Italy are standing Out for their orig
inal claims, which are conceded to be
unreasonable and may make trouble
before there is a readiustment, but it
is believed at the state department
that before the final total is agreed
upon the obstructing powers will join
hands with Great Britain, Japan and
the United States and accept reason
able sums as their indemnities. There
is reason to believe that the kernel
of the American proposition touch
ing the distribution of the indemnity
funds between the powers is found
in a suggestion that the allotment be
made upon the basis of the number
of troops actually employed by each
power in the relief of the legation
ers. BY this scheme the forces
brought into China since the occupa-
tion of Picking are disregarded, as
being entirely unnecessary to secure
any lawful and unanimously desired
end. On this basis Great Britain
would rank first, Japan next, the
United States third, and so on.
Claims of the Powers.
Washington, April 15.-The last adj
vices to the state department from
Mr.. Rockhill contain further details
respecting the amount of the in
IDENTITIES claimed from China by the
powers. 1t appears that these claims
have been much exaggerated in some
statements, though the sum total is
still far in excess of the amount OF
money it is believed here that China
can raise. 1t is the belief of the state
department that the total claims
should not be allowed to exceed
$3.50, 100000 or $500, 100000. Accord
ing to information received here the
British claim, so far as formulated,
is reasonable in amount as compared
with other claims. In fact the
United States, Great Britain and
Japan represent in these negotia-
tions the moderate element whose
desire is to prevent the imposition
of charges that shall destroy the
Chinese government and result in
the division of the empire. None of
of the claims exceeds S1OO00O.000 and
even the largest rs something less
than this amount. This is believed
to be the Russian claim, which is
fixed at 500, 900, 900. The German
claim Is flexible, ranging between
$6o,0o0,O00 and $4,000, 900, but is
nearer the former mark at present,
though it doubtless will grow. As al
ready stated the claim of the
United States is $25,O00,O0O, and with
these few totals in mind it will be
seen that if the remaining powers
are to be allowed a proportionate
share, the aggregate will be beyond
China's ability to pay, which has
been tentatively estimated at $780,
0OO, 900.
Nothing has yet been determined
respecting the method of raising the
indemnity fund, even after an agree
ment is reached.
Urges Return of Emperor.
Picking, April 15.-Komours Yutaro,
the Japanese minister, accompanied
by Gen. Yamaguchi, the Japanese
commander, recently called upon
Prince Ching and notified him that
the return of Emperor Kwang Su
to Picking was urgently desired.
Prince Ching was informed that the
emperor's wishes would be respected
by the foreign troops, and that every
courtesy would be shown him. 1t
was pointed out to the Chinese pleni-
potentiary that the emperor's re-
turn was of the highest possible inn
portance as affecting the main
tenance of the integrity of the Chi
nese empire, and that he should come
accompanied by every available SOL
der, by at least 10000 men If pos
sible. These troops, it was further
contended by the Japanese minister,
must be sent into Manchuria, as the
Russians reported great disturbances
there, and it was not right that the
task of quelling the trouble should
be thrown upon the shoulders of one
nation. Finally Prince Ching was as
sured that, if the 10000 Chinese
troops could not suppress the disor-
ders in Manchuria, other powers
would send an international force to
cnnnerate with China. which all the