Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-01-10
SLOW ADVANCE
TOWARD PEACE.
Some Phases Of Negotiations May Be
Removed From Pekin.
INDEMEITIES and new TREATIES.

Two SUBJECTS u 10 Dosu0u " A"n0 AA
The Local Influences at Pekin-PrOtest
of the Southern VicerOys Against
Agreement Excites Surprise.
Washington, January S.-The negotla'
tions which have been pending for some
time relative to the removal from Pekin
of some of the subjects international nego'
tiations, so that they could be taken up at
Washington or at the capital OF one OF the
other powers, have now advanced to a
stage where there is promise of satisfac-
tory understanding among the powers on
this move. The plan originated through
a cabled suggestion of Minister Conger
about week ago, that there was little
prospect of securing united action on the
subject of indemnity and of new CONNER
cial treaties with China. For this reason,
Mr.. Conger suggested that better progress
in the negotiations were likely 10 result If
these two phases could be removed from
Pekin and taken up at some point entirely
removed from the local influences.
MIR. Conger's idea met with favorable
consideration from the officials here, and
accordingly the suggestion was communl'
Gated by this government to the other
powers interested in China. 1t was not
proposition to remove the entire field OF
peace negotiations from Pekin, but simply
that these two phases. relating to indemni'
~ and the commercial treaties, be taken
up at Washington or one of the other cap
itals. In executing this plan it has been
the purpose to appoint an international
commission which could pass on all ques-
tions OF indemnity, both among themselves
and as against China.
1t would be in the main conference
among the powers, although it is expected
that Chinese ENJOYS would be invited to
participate after the proceedings have
reached a stage where unity of action
among the powers was assured.
The State Department already has re-
ceiyed indications as to the general feeling
Of some of the powers on this proposition;
but there has not been time for final ac'
ton by any of the powers, nor for such
concensus of opinion as to foreshadow the
result. There appears to be no reason to
anticipate serious opposition to the trans
fer, as most of the powers have appreciat-
ed the obstacles at Pekin in the way OF an
agreement on the two subjects of indemni-
ty and commercial treaties.
Minister Conger was heard from today
in cablegram to the State Department.
The text of the dispatch was not given out,
but it was made known that i'll substance
Mr.. Conger confirmed recent press reports
to the effect that there was reason TO be-
leye the Empress Dowager was exerting
her influence against the acceptance OF the
demands submitted b. the powers. These
adyices lead to apprehension in. official
quarters of another crisis in the negotla'
tions. AS the demands of the powers are
'irreyocable" they amount to an ultima
tum; so that refusal on the part OF China
to sign would be equivalent to the rejection
of an ullimatum. Under these circum-
stances, official attention is already be-
ING given to the course to be pursued
in case OF refusal on the part of China.
s 1t is the general belief that under no cir
cumstances would there be a declaration
of war to enforce the demands, but rather
a prolonged occupancy of Pekin, which
would again involve complications over
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Empire. The
position of the United States happens to
be more fortunate than that of the other
powers in that it accepted the word ''ir-
reyocable" with reluctance, and then in
structed Minister Conger to sign with an
express reservation that the execution oi
tie demands would not lead to any terri
torial aggrandizement.
The United States government is seek
in to insist upon signing of the treaty by
the Chinese envoys, on the ground that
they presented credentials clothing them
with complete authority to act without
the necessity of first submitting their acts
to the imperial court for approval. Based
ON these credentials, Minister Conger and
the other ministers at Pekin are urging
that the ENJOYS should sign without refer
ence to the attitude of the court; and II
case the signatures are given they will bt
accepted as a complete expression of the
will of the Chinese government.
CHING MAY SIGN TODAY.
Pekin. January 8.-The protest Of the
yiceroy of yang-tse to the signing OF tb'
Joint note has created little surprise here
but the fact that the other southern vice
rows also have protested, causing the cour
to instruct the plenipotentiaries not Il
sign the note, created great sensation IL
Pekin. The agreement has not yet beel
presented for signature. The minister
believe, however, that Prince Ching is to-
irreyocably hound verbally, and think h
will sign tomorrow.
The objections of the southern viceroy
are precisely the same as those which tn
court originally telegraphed to Primo
Ching and concerning which, on the rep
resentatioDs of Prince Ching and Ii Hum