The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-12

disbursements You also stated that every
facility of payment should be accorded
China and that the debt should be paid
by bonds issued at par and bearing per
cent. interest and running for thirty or
forty years
THE INDEMNITY.
Though it became necessary, after pro-
tracted discussion in the conference, TO &C
cept the proposition of the other powers TO
demand of China the sum total of their
losses and disbursements, reaching the
enormous sum of $685., 10000. over insist
ence in pressing for a much lower sum.
and the weight of the arguments adduced
in favor of such policy, resulted in clos
ing the indemnities at the above lump
sum, when they bid fair to go on swelling
indefinitely. This and the acceptance of
your suggestion that the indemnities be
paid in bonds issued at par, and bearing a
low rate of interest a per cent? was final
ly agreed upon, and running for forty
years, resulted in saving a vast sum to
China, FASTENED the evacuation of the
country by the expeditionary forces and
the restoration of order and of normal re-
lations with the Chinese government.
I'm connection with the question of the
indemnity l should particularly mention
that IL had proved necessary TO the powers
in their search for revenues applicable to
the service of the indemnity debt that the
existing nominal per cent. ad ValOrem
customs tariff on foreign imports should
be made effective per cent. ad valorem,
the United States, mindful of the further
ance of lawful commerce in China in the
interests of the world and believing that
no opportunity should be lost TO secure to
foreign trade all the facilities its vast i'm
pOrtance entities il to, and that any addi-
tiOnal tax on trade should be met by COM
mercial cOmpensatiOns on the part of Chi
ma of equal value, declined to consent to
the above increase of the customs tariff on
imports, unless, first, all the treaty powers
and China agreed to cooperate in the long
desired Improvement of the water ap-
proaches to Shanghai and Tien-Tsin. and,
second, that specific duties should be sub
stituted for the present ad Valorem ones in
the tariff on foreign imports. Both these
conditions were ultimately agreed on.
mo divergence of views existed. fortu-
nateIy, between the representatives of the
powers on the question of improving the
channels of direct communication between
them and the Chinese government. The
lOng-veXeG question Of the ceremonial to be
observed in the public audiences granted
by the Emperor of China to foreign repre-
SentatlVeS was finally settled by the pleni-
potent1aries on lines perfectly satisfactory
to all parties to the negotiations. The
Tsung Ii Yamen, or bureau of foreign af-
fairs. which the experience of forty years
was unwieldy and incapable of discharging
the duties devolving upon it., was altered in
changed into responsible Ministry of For
eign affairs and organized on lines similar
to those adopted in every other country of
the world.
"Such, in brief. has been the role PLAYED
by the United States in the conference of
Picking. While we maintained complete
independence We were able TO act harmoni-
ously in the concert of powers the exist
ence of which was essential to the
prompt and peaceful settlement of the sit
uation, we retained the friendship of all
the negotiating powers, exerted a salutary
| influence on the cause of moderation. hu-
mainly and justice. secured adequate repa-
ration for wrongs done our citizens, guar
antees for their future protection, and la
| bored successfully in the interests of the
whole world in the cause of equal and i'm
partial trade with all parts of the Chinese
/ empire"