The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-05
SNACATPEKINC
INDEMNITY QUESTION OBsTRUcTING
THE DIPLOMATIC CHANNEL.
Threatens to Wreck Negotiations and
Delay Final Settlement OF the
whole Chinese Question.
MR.. CoNGER PEssIMIsTIC
HE SAYS 1T is HOPELESS TO EXPECT
THE ENJOYS TO AGREE.
yecreeary Hay I'm Correspondence
with Other Foreign omces on
New Mode OF Procedure.
SOME POWERS TOO GREEDY
GEHMAyY,s INDEMNITY BILL EX-
PECTED TO BE ENORMOUS.
Army Officers Promised Five Times
Their Regular Salaries-Walder-
see Not Dead, ms Reported.
gecreeary Hay I'm Correspondence
with Other Foreign omces on q
New Mode OF Procedure.
SOME POWERS TOO GREEDY
GEHMANY,s INDEMNITY BILL Ex-
PECTED TO BE ENORMOUS.
Army Oficers Promised Five Times
Their Regular SaIaries-Walder-
see Not Dead, as Reported.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-The State De-
partment Is making a strong effort to Sc
cure an understanding among the powers
to serve as a basis for the adjustment of
the question of indemnity to be paid by the
Chinese government. 1t appears from Mr..
Ccnger's reports that 1t is hopeless to ex-
pect the foreign ministers at Peking to
reach an agreement on this important SUBJ
5ect, and IL the problem is to be solved at
all it must be removed from the Peking
council and dealt with by direct diplo-
matte exchange, as was successfully at
tempted in the case OF the preceding serious
difference between the ministers. There
fore the State DEPARTMENT is in correspond
ence with other foreign offices respecting
this subject. though the negotiations have
not proceeded to a point where 1t can be
said that successful termination is il sight.
The principal difficulty in the way Is be-
nsved to be the enormous indemnities de-
manded by some OF the powers. The ef-
forts OF the Chinese government to secure
better terms, thus protecting the nego-
tiations, also are expected to have the re-
suit of adding considerably to the sum
total which must be paid in the end. This
is because the expense Of maintaining the
foreign military establishments in China
probably will be assessed against the Chi
nese government and the cost of keeping
foreign troops in PekIng at this season
of the year and in country where every
necessity OF life has to be transported from
a distance viii make the bill very heavy
1t is expected the bill Of Germany viii be
by far the largest, and 1t is a significant
fua or fhaf he Aoe Il
lowed its officers in service in China five
fold their regular salaries. a rate hitherto
unknown in military history. The Chi
nese. however. are expected to pay for this.
The attitude of Russia in Manchuria has
given rise TO considerable apprehension
here. AS indicated in recent news dis
patches. a series of regulations has been
promulgated by the Russian government
for the administration of affairs in Man.
churia, which would seem to the officials
here TO warrant an apprehension that a
permanent occupation of that territory
with its population of 20. .00o, ,000 is in con-
temptation. 1t is believed that some rep
reservations either have been or will bc
made on the subject TO the powers When
the Russian government announced its in
tention to withdraw its troops from Peking
1t also solemnly declared that "as soon
as lasting order shall have been established
In Manchuria and indispensable measures
taken for the protection of railway con-
struction, which. according to formal agree
ment. China assured. Russia will not fall to
withdraw her troops from these territories
of the neighboring empire. provided the
action Of the powers does not place any OBJ
stacie In the way Of such a measure"
The contention OF the Russian represent
atives here is that the conditions laid down
in this pledge have not yet been realized
and they insist that there is nothing in
the published regulations which would war
rant the assumption that Russia is not
acting in perfect good faith in this matter
To clear up any doubt that may remain on
this point. however. it is probable that an
explicit official declaration from Russia
viii be invited on this point.