New-York tribune., 1901-02-18
LEGATION GROUNDS AT PEKING.
RDIscRIaIINATE SEIZURE OF PROPERTY
By OTHER POWERS THAN THE
UNITED STATES.

Washington. Feb. II (special).-while the In
discriminate seizure OF property IN China by
foreign nations continues. there IS something
refreshing IN letter Senator Lodge has re-
oeived from W. woodviIle Rockhiu. who was
sent 70 Picking 20 assist. and IN certain con-
tingencies 10 relieve Minister conger. He says
under date OF November 20:
Conger has written 70 the Department and 7
have written 10 the Secretary suggesting the
for our legation here. AL the other Powers
have already pre-empted large tracts in the
Tartar City here, on which they expect 10 build
II do not do something al once we will find
ourselves shut on permanently from getting
aa-,l,, =. - ~ ~ AaNea resPsCtaole leeauon
terests out here. II Congress would appropri-
ate 100000 we could secure all the necessary
and and build al the needed buildings for the
legation and for the guard, which must remain
here probably for years 10 come. year from
now and II VIII be too late. II IS without any
sXaggerauon. now or never.
Minister conger's official recommendation OF
about the same date 20 the State Department
s follows:
probability OF keeping large legation grounds IN
he future and because OF the general desire on
he part OF all the European representatives 10
nave extensive legations all OF the Ministers are
taking possession OF considerable areas adjoin-
ng their legatons-property belonging either 10
he Chinese Government or 10 private citizens,
and having been abandoned by the owners dur
ng the siege-with the intention 10 claim them
as conquest, possibly credit something for
them on their account for indemnity. I have
as Yet not taken formal possession OF any
ground for this purpose. nor shall I without in
structions, but shall not for the present permit
any OF the owners or other persons 10 reoccupy
any OF the property between this legation and
he canal TO the east OF II. While this area Will
% very small in comparison with the other
egations. Yet II VIII be sufficient 10 make both
he legation personnel and the guard very COM
Portable and win better comport with our ira
atiOnal simplicity vis-a-Vis the usual magnii-
eence Of other representatives.
II is proposed 10 designate the boundaries Of
legation quarter which shall include all the
legations, and then demand the right 10 put
hat IN a state Of defence when necessary, and
20 prohibit the residence OF Chinese there, eK-
sept by permission OF the Ministers If there
Tore these ideas as 10 guards. defence. etc. are
70 be carried out, a larger legation will be an
absolute necessity. In fact. IL is impossible now
70 accommodate the legation and stan in our
present quarters without most inconVenient
crowding
There are no public properties inside the lega-
don quarter which we could take as a legation.
AL the proposed property 20 be added, as above
mentioned 10 our legation. is private ground,
except a very small temple IN the southeast
corner, and presume. under our policy, II taken.
vii be paid for either 10 the Chinese owners or
credited upon account against the Chinese Cow
eminent for indemnity. although ] suspect most
d the other Governments Will take theirs as a
species OF conquest.
The plot OF ground adjoining and lying 10 the
east OF the legation 10 which I have made refer
snce is about the size OF the premises now occu-
pied by US