The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-01-10
OUR MINISTER'S BUSY.
Choate COnfers With Lansdowne and
White With Won RichthOten.
oHINA's PEACE THE THEME.
ENJOYS Explain Our Proposition to
Bring the Matter Before Interna-
tionaI Commission In "A Capt.
tai other Than Picking.

Washington, Jan. 9.-The lengthy con-
ferences held by ambassador Choate with
Lord Lansdowne, British minister for
foreign affairs, and ambassador WIZ te
with Baron Won Richthofep, German
minister for foreign affairs, as briefly re-
ported by cable, relate to the proposition
made by the United States for the re-
moval Of the two subjects of indemnity
and commercial treaties from Picking to
Washington or some other foreign CAPT.
tai for negotiation before an internation-
al commission. 1t appears, however, that
the Berlin understanding, that Mr.. White
submitted proposal for the withdrawal
Of troops from China as soon as the Chi
aese government accepts all of the arti-
cles of the joint note except those relat-
ing to indemnity and commercial treaties
is rather an inference from the proposal
and not part of the proposal itself.
The United States has from the outset
sought to avoid prolonged occupancy OF
China by the foreign forces. This desire
has become emphasized of late, as the re.
fusal of China to sign raised direct is.
sue with the .irrevocable" terms of the
powers, threatening to bring on a pro
longed occupancy of Picking and Other
parts of the empire. For this reason it is
believed that Mr.. White may have di
rected attention to the desirability of d
withdrawal. but in any event this ha.
been more in the nature of a CONVERSE
ton on measures of mutual expediency
and not direct proposition from the
| United States. On the contrary, it can
not be learned here that this phase Of d
withdrawal of troops has taken form il
any recent proposition, although it is at
all times involved in the plans for bring
ing the negotiations to a close.
The various interviews Of the Ameri
can ambassadors with foreign govern
ments have not yet brought about any
determination as to the proposed transfer
OF negotiations to a point outside Pc
king, and il is probable that some days
will elapsr before the ambassadors viii
| be- able to advise the state department
definitely as to the attitude Of the severa
powers.
The News From China.
A dispatch from Peking says:
Iii Hung Chang is better. Both h,
! rand Prince Ching baked at signing III,
joint note when they considered the ques
tion until the court was heard from again
/ .
recting them to put off signing prevented
them from using the imperial seal unit
permission shall have been received
which permission they claim to cxpec
hourly.
1T is known here among the Chinese
that the extreme antiforeign element il
now in power and that the court favor
ties now advise the empress dowager
OF these the best known are Ii Chual
Lin, cabinet minister; General Ma All,
Tung Fuh Slang. Their views coincid
perfectly with those Of the southern vice
roys. particularly with those of Chan
Chi Tung, who has threatened to rebel i
the note is signed.
Iii Hung Chang ana Prince Chin
both strongly urge the signing of til
agreement, and they believe their coun
sels must prevail. They have pointc,
out in the strongest possible terms tina
the very existence of China nscr--itute
the acceptance of the terms Of the power
and that failure on the part of China t,
sign may mean the allies will. rs soon n
the state of the weather makes such
| step feasible, send troops over the cuun
try and that parts OF the empire hereto
fore untouched will feel the scourse d
war.
1.-THE Germans have sent two compa
MES Of infantry to the vicinity Of tn
Ming tombs. where trouble Is reported. :"
dispatch from Shanghai says
"A newspaper of this city publishes
letter from Sian7Fu announcing that tn
emperor has fully decided to return L
Peking to admiuister the reformed GOV
eminent. According to this letter. til
empress dowager offers no opposition t
the empcror's determination"