The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-05-22
British Government UnaIterabIy 0p.
posed 10 Raising Import Duties.
THE JOINT GUARANTEE OF A LOAN
Not Favored on Account Of High Stand.
Ing Of British Credit.
CHINA SHOULD GIVE EACH POWER BOND
General Desire for Arrival OF Time When
Il Would Be Possible to With
draw All Troops.

London, May 21.-The government was
questioned In the house of commons today
on the subject of the British tug Emo iu-
cldent at 'rlen Tsin, when two Ctanese
on board that vessel we're fatally shot by
Germans guarding bridge after tho tug
had fouled It. The under foreign secrc-
tary, Lord Cranhorne, in rcply, said Field
Marshal Count Won Waldersee had OK.
pressed his regret and had promised to
take measures TO prevent the recurrence
Of similar incidents
Lord Cranhorne proceeded to make a
general statement on the China question.
saying the governments chief concern AZ
present was TO moderate SO Far as posi-.
bic the demands for indemnity aud see
they did not infringe on commercial inter.
ests The government therefore was uu-
altorahN opposed 10 raising the import
duties to 10 per cent as security for tine
pay mcnt If the indemnity and In reply to
all such suggestions had signlhed that
Great Britain would only consent to such
n rise Of duties in connection with com.
mercal lmposts IL the Chinese nnanclal
system as the abolition Of the likin taxes,
rs Ia moderating the total indemnlts,
there were more ways thnn one of achisv
ing that object and China's burden might
he pcrceptihly lightened hy the mNtlloi
Of cNactlng payment m regard 10 ths
proposal nat the Indemnity he betrayed ny
a loan guaranteed by concert OF the
powers. undoubtedly thma's obligation to
! pay the indemnity was joint obligation
aud. though he hoped II would not b.
necessary, II such a loan was guaranteed
! II would have to he by the Joint force OF
| all the powers. The objection TO 10 ut
guarantee. however, was so Obvious t'iai
| the government would have nothing TO 10
with II. Considering that BRUSH crcdlt
stood higher than that of any otAef pow
en- while Great Brltalu uuiY claimed a
small portion Of che indemnity, II wond
be nothing short Of iDsUne To agree 10
| jointly guarantee the loan.
! After nien,ionlng that three high pricei
deltnqucnts had been executed: that three
had been permitted 10 commit snfput'
that -four fad been baulshed, ami taat
the powers had demanded the punishment
Of 40 provincial cuprlts Lord Crnnb"rne
concluded by say ing thai on the wiuie me
! annirs OF China we've entering or more
pncihc phase and the government has prom
issd 10 Withdraw q large n nrt OF tue hFl''
Lord lnnsdpwnc, foreign secretary, male
/ II statement IN the house of loros similar
! the house Of commons. lie said me gpN.
! rrumont desired 10 nyold nn arrangement
! for tie payment OF tue Indemnity by whlrh
/ China wOuld he compelled 10 contract sep
uunte obligations nnn could not agree to
[ Il Joint guarantee OF the loan,
The government therefore, hal suggested
! 10 the powers that China should give tao
| powers bonds representing tho amount due
! 10 each of theni These bonds might be
| cXtlngnishcd IN u term OF Years ~ M
payment nf principal and Interest Cor
lain, sources Of revenue should he cnr
| murked and the Weld he paid TO u b9nal
which should Distribute 4. II China then
made default It. would he to the powers
! collectively.
The government hoped the powers woul |
be content 10 base their demands on com.
men principles aud satisfy them FROM =
common source and IN default denim
pay mrnt by common action. The nropnsei
hoard would not he concerned IN The I'M.
position or collection az taxes, IT. in
pursuance ~ The suggested plan, payment
was oxactcd from, China IN honds AZ their
face valve qnd u possible 70 nrrangc az
Great Britain was prepared 70 do for
not enforcing the full amount Of these mn.
nual payments al once, L would grrstlt
improve the position ~ China and render
II far easier for her tn meet her Glallns
than n drlren 10 the eSpedlent of loan.