The Van Buren press., 1901-04-13
THE CHINESE Indemnity.
Efforts of the United States to Bring
the Powers Demands Within
Chinese Resources.
WILL CUT IN HALF IF OTHERS DO 50.
The Great Danger Lies In Delay
The Present Rebellion in Shcn 81
Province Traceable to the Excess
siye Demands AS Regards Punish-
ments and Penalties.

Washington, April 10-The STATE
department has heard further from
Mr.. Rockhill, our special commissions
err at Pekin, touching the effort max
ing there to reach an agreement re-
speeding the indemnity to be de-
manded from the Chinese govern
ment. Mr.. Rockhill's principal effort,
acting under direct instructions OF
the state department, is to induce the
other powers to keep down the total
of their claims to the amount which
the financial experts, headed by Sir
Robert Hart, has decided to be within
the ability of China to pay.
The Outside Limit.
The United States government has
felt that on no account should the
total indemnity claim exceed 100000
900 sterling, and has steadfastly
sought to make that figure the out
side limit of the claims. For itself,
the state department claims $25,00O,-
900 indemnity, and it has supplied Mr..
Rockhil with data for the presen-
tation of an itemizcd account show
ing the expenditures made by the gov
eminent of the United States in the
transportation of our military con-
tingent in China, its maintenance
there, and the just claims of the mis-
sionares who were American citizens
and suffered in property and person
from the Boxer outbreak.
Anxious for speedy settlement.
In its anxiety to avoid expressing
China and TO secure u speedy settle
ment of the Chinese question, the
United States government stands will
ing to make heavy cut in its claims,
provided the other nations represent
ed at Pekin will abate their claims IN
proportion, 1t is entirely possible
that if Mr.. Rockhill can induce the
other ministers to make u cut of so
per cent. in their indemnity claims he
will do so to; though the apparent
result be the loss to the United States
of $12,j00,0O0.
Danger In Delay.
The administration is satisfied that
the great danger of the situation at
Pekin lies in delay. Had the repre-
sensations of Mr.. Rockhill been heed
ed the officials are confident that the
formidable rebellion which has now
broken out under the lead of Gen.
Tung Flu Sian, in Shen 81 province,
would never have occurred.
MIR. Rockhill had satisfied himself
that the Chinese government was alb
solutely sincere when it pleaded in
ability to punish this great general
and Prince Tuan in the full measure
demanded by the powers. 1t IS
thought here that more modest de.
mands could have been met by the
Chinese government and the rebellion
averted.
TOO Much Time Wasted.
The indemnity question also has
consumed an unconscionable length
OF time, and il il had been settled sew
eral weeks or even months ago, the
present difficulty, it is believed, would
have been impossible. 1t is the hope
therefore, of the officials here, that
Tung Flung Slams movement will
stimulate the tagging ministers at
Pekin to final action. II it does not
If the court is obliged to fee from
Si-nan-Fu, and the great Yang-Tsc
viceroys are overslaughcd by Gen,
Tung Flu Sian. as seems entirely prob
ablc-then all China will be plunged
into anarchy, in the estimate Of the
officials here.