Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-01-12
ANTIAMERlCAN COM BINE
Powers May Force Our Hand
In China.
OPPOSED TO HAYS LATEST PLAN.


Austrian official Circles Responsible
For story THAT united states Will
BE Told 20 Cease Alleged Delays Ia
Picking Negotiations Get oct.
London. Jan 1o-The Herald's Euro
pean edition publishes the following ff9n
its correspondent al Nieunas
"I7he announcement that the United
States has proposed the appointment ~
an international commission for the set
tement Of the indemnity question aud
for revision Of the commercial treaties
with China has caused great sensation
here.
II at once took measures to inform my
self as to the views of the Austrian for
eign office. The opinion there is that the
proposal of the United States has little
chance of obtaining the approval Of the
powers. The reasons given for this attn
tude are. however. far from convincing.
1T is generally pointed out that il APP
pears inadvisable to withdraw any part
of the matter from the negotiations now
being carried on in Picking. The confer
ence Of ministers represents the most eff
fective and influential instrument. sup
ported as it Is by armed occupation of the
province Of Pe-ch-li. In addition to this
the powers are unanimous in their ae-
mands on China.
"A further reason given for the contin-
uation Of the Picking negotiations Is that
the exile of the empress aud emperor of
fers good means of bringing pressure
TO bear on China The ruler of the Celes-
tial empire viii not be able to put UP for
long with this untenable state of affairs
and viii carry out the demands of the
powers.
'..The information given to me by the
foreign Office regarding its attitude to-
ward the proposals Of the United States
was conveyed to mein very guarded Ian
guage The officials probably regarded
this as an act Of courtesy toward a CORE
spondent of an American Journal.
II have, however, since received from
private sources information that to other
journalists the foreign Office expressed
itself in a much sharper tone regarding
the American proposals.
Irritated by Latest Proposals.
1.-THE second version of the views of the
government is as follows The European
powers are resolutely decided to refuse
the proposal Of the United States A con
siderable asnount Of irritation has been
caused by the alleged dilatory tactics OF
America.
1.-THE finale Of this second version leads
to the absolutely incredible conclusion
that the powers will finally be forced to
seriously consider if they should not make
representations to the United States and
call upon her either to respect her sigma
ture and assist in the conclusion of peace
or leave the concert of powers.
.The recent delays in the conclusion o.
peace are described as being entirely the
fault of the United States. BY her action
she has only encouraged the dilatory tao.
tics of the Chinese. The latter, however.
ought TO see that they do not require
America as a protector as this rele Is
already played by Russia.
.sThis second version is not, however
without its conciliatory points. 1t closes
with the statement that outlines of at
1east scheme for the revision Of the
commercial treaties must be settled al
pekng This is at least very eloquent.
THE official view does not, however,
obtain approval in political circles here
which declare that new plan Is indie
feasible. and the impression is gradually
gaining ground that further negotiations
in Picking will be- to use somewhat vul.
gar expression, a complete frost.
sit is pointed out that in spite of the
peace negotiations Manchuria belongs de
facto to Russia and that the occupation
of Pe-chi-li is as matter of fact being
carried out only by England and Ger.
many. In spite of this Count Won Wal
dersee has put up with a great deal of
sharp criticism of his tactics by the Eng.
fish.
at has lately seemed as if the Italians
were DESTROYS of fishing in the troubled
waters and securing advantages fol
themselves.
''Under such circumstances it is some
what risky to describe the conference OF
ministers in Picking as being unanimous
and as being an effective instrument. 1t
rather looks. they hold. as if the end OF
the concert of the powers was not far
off"