Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-30
WITHDRAWAL OF FORCES
Depends on How Soon Mat,cr Of Identities
Can Be Arranged.

Pekin, April 29.-rhe generals. of thc
powers held conference. this morn
ing. to consider the question of the
WltndraWai of the troops and decided
I'd address, u note to the ministers; in
forming them that when the ministers
are able to announce the lump sum &C.
mandcd as indemnity and the Chinese
nave agreed to the principle of paw
ments arrangements will be possible
for withdrawal.
The other matters discussed were the
handing over the administration of
fekin TO native officials ana the plan
for The command Of the legation
guards. as to whether this command
should be conferred in one officer or
each detachment should be indcpenI-
ent.
Regarding the government of Pekin.
II was decided to allow the Chinese
gradually to assume more control I'M
til the civil government was entirely
in their hands. the military only ex-
erciSing passive supervision. Some
time was spent in considering the re-
ply of the ministers to views recently
cnunciatad by the generals regarding
other questions of a purely military
character. The ministers agree with
the generals rs to razing the forts and
also as to the points to be occupied be
tween Pckin and the sea but they de-
sire the generals 70 specify the num-
bcrs of the different nationalities at
Tien Tsin and Shan Kwan. So far as
concerns the garrison of 1000 men
which is to remain Professionally at
occupation. ii will be necessary that
each nations strength shall be de-
termined.
The ministers believe that the pro-
visional government at Tien Tsin
should be abolished as soon as the
situation permits. They agree that the
forces in China should he under one
COMMUNICATIVE chief but they contend
that the generals should understand
that the legation guards are entirely
outside such forces and under their re-
spcctivc ministers.
The ministers suggested that ii
would be necessary for the generals to
consider the adyisablity of cntrusting
the police and administration Of Pckin
To Chinese officials about one month
before the evacuation. but, in consid-
criug this question. they urged that
the fact must he recalled that there
had never boon military administration
OF permanent military organization
IN Pekin as troops with banners could
not bc considered such.
Concerning the question Of military
evacuation the ministers Informed the
generals that At proposition 50 con
ceivcd had beon submitted unanimous
Nv by the representatives of the powers
TO their governments: that a partial
reduction of troops was already posi-
BILE but that evacuation proper could
not commence before the Chinese gov
crnmert had fulfilled Articles II md :
of the ioirt note and not before China
had accented the general conditions foT
the payment Of irdcmnitics.
Tho Germans were virtually caught
in n trap near the Ku kwan pass. y
detachment of so had As casualties,
while the Chinese losses are said I"
have been nominal. The German "N-
nodition is returning, leaving INC
country greatly disaifccted. owing To
the hardships inflicted upon tho p"pu-
1ntion. Altogether the expedition ap-
ncars to have produced very bad CT
foot The current Chinese gossip Is
FIAT tho Germans We're driven oacN
with heavy losses and this is lmpiic-
;,1v believed by the bulk OF the people.