Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1901-06-13
THE MODUS VIVENDI
AN EFFORT TO FACILITATE THE
CHINESE NEGOTIATIONS.
The Aggregate Amount Of Indemnity Is Fixed
at $685., ZOO, 900. but Methods Of Seeur.
itv and PAYMENT Of Same Causes wide
Disagreement-The Matter Of Permanent
Treaties will Come Next

Washington, June 6.-The plan OF
q modus vivcndi on the subject OF
the Chinese indemnities is now re-
ceiving the earnest attention OF those
interested in the Chinese negotia-
tions, the purpose being to prevent
the indemnity question from causing
an interruption in the concert OF
the powers and at the same time to
remove the indemnity itself so that
progress can be made on the remain
ing subjects OF negotiation. Since
the return of the president and Sec
rotary Hay from the West, the in
delnnity question has been thorough
ly gone over with the foreign repre-
sentatives concerned. including the
British, Russian and French ambas-
sailors and Japanese minister. Sew
eral of the ambassadors who had in
tended to leave for Europe have now
deferred their departure for month.
As result of the exchanges of the
last few days the question has resolved
itself to about the following basis ::
There is no further issue as to the
total of indemnity, that having been
agreed upon by all the powers and
being 1887 900, 600. But there re-
remains the question of how this
amount shall be paid.
The Russian suggestion, which APP
pears to have the approval of ma
jority of the powers, is that China
issue bonds for the full amount and
that all the powers then unite in Civ
ing joint Endorsement or guarantee
OF the payment of them. The desire
has been not only to secure the as
sent of majority of the powers to
this scheme, but the unanimous APP
prevail OF all of them. This, however,
has not been accomplished up to the
present time. and it is for this reason
that the modus vivendi is now being
considered as possible means OF
bringing about united action.
The British government is not ia
vorable to the Russian proposition
and the British view has taken form
in a plan to have China issue her own
bonds to the several governments,
each government thereafter adopting
its own course as to an individual
guarantee.
The policy OF the United States
regarding the Russion proposition
was made known in part during the
presidents western trip, although
the final course of this government
is still considered open and is the
cause for the extended conferences
between the ambassadors and Secre-
tary Hay which have been in pro-
gress since Mr.. Hays return. The
chief difficulty which the United
States finds as to a joint agreement
is that the constitution does not au-
thorize the executive to guarantee
bonds in the absense of the approval
of congress. AS to the attitude OF
congress, it has been stated during
the negotiations that it is doubtful
whether the legislative branch would
approve a Joint guarantee of such a
vast total of bonds.
When the indemnity question is
settled it is believed that fully 80 per
cent of the Chinese negotiations
would be disposed OF. The next
question will be permanent treaties
with China and on this point it is
expected that each of the powers will
suggest a certain basis of treaty
and that this ultimately will take
form in common form Of treaty
action.