Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-04
It is Believed That Enormous Indem-
mites Will Be Asked.
MINISTER'S AT PEKIN CANNOT AGREE
Germany in Particular Preparing a
Big Bill.
RUSSIANS IN MANCH L RIA

The Department of State is making
strong effort to obtain an understanding
among the powers 10 serve a basis for
the adjustment of the question of indem-
nifty 10 be paid by the Chinese government.
II appears from Mr.. Conger's report that
it is hopeless to expect the foreign minis
tiers at Pekin to reach an agreement on this
important subject. and if the problem is to
be solved at all it must be removed from
the Pekin council and dealt with by direcs
diplomatic exchange, successfully
attempted in the case of the preceding Sc
rious difference between the ministers.
Therefore the State Department is in cor
respondence with other foreign offices re-
specting that subject. though the negotia-
tons have not proceeded to a point where
it can be said that successful termination
IS in sight.
Large Indemnities Wanted.
The principal difficulty in the way is be-
leved to be the enormous indemn.t ties de-
manded by some of the powers. The CT
forts of the Chinese government to secure
better terms so far as they tend to pro-
tract the negotiations, are also expected to
have the unfortunate result of adding con-
s.derably to the sum total which must be
paid in the end. This is because the eX-
pen>eS of maintaining the foreign m4iltary
establishments in China will probably be
asses cd against the Chinese government,
and the cost of keeping foreign troops IN
Pekin at this season of the year. ana IN
country where every necessity OF nfe mas
to be imported from vast distance Will
make the bill very heavy. 1t is believed
that the bill of Germany will be by far
the largest, and it is significant fact that
the German government has allowed It's
cfff~crs on service in China fivefoid their
regular salaries. rate of pay hitherto un-
known in military history. The Chinese,
Russians in Manchuria.
The attitude of Russia in Manchuria las
gwen rise to considerable apprehension
here. As indicated in recent news dispatches
a series of regulations has been Dromul-
,-ated by the Russian government for the
administration OF affairs in Manchuria,
which would seem to the officials here to
warrant an apprehension that a permanent
occupation of that territory With Its popu-
lation of twenty millions is in contem-
plauon. 1t Is believed that some represen-
tationS either have been or Will be made
on the subject to the powers When the
Russian government announced its inten-
tior to withdraw its troops from PekIn it
also solemnly declared that las soon as
lasting order shall have been established in
Nancnuria, and Indispensable measures
taken for the protection of railway con-
struction, which, according to formal agree
ment China assured, Russia will not 1.tl
to withdraw her troops from these terri
tories of the neighborlng empire provided
the action of other powers does not place
any obstacle in the way OF such a meas
ure
Claims of the Russians.
The contention of the Russian representa-
tives here is that the conditions laid down
III that pledge have not yet been realized.
and they insist that there is nothing in
the published regulations which would war
lant the assumption that Russia is not act
ing in perfect good faith in this matter.
To clear up any doubt that may remain on
that point, however, it is probable that an
explicit official declaration from Russia
vii. be invited on that point.