New-York tribune., 1901-05-03
THE CHINESE INDEMNITY.
REPORT THAT THE POWERS HAVE
AGREED OK s273OO0OO0 DOUBTED

N WASHINGTON.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBrxE.l

Washington. May 2-No news has been re-
ceived in Washington confirming the report sent
out from London last night TO the effect that the
representatives Of the powers at Peking have
agreed on S273. 100000 the indemnity 10 be
paid by the Chinese Government for the de-
struction Of life and property caused by the
Boxer uprising State Department officials are
inclined to doubt the whole story. They say
that the glibness with which ii is sent out from
London gives il a suspicious air, ana iurlhei
declare that any negotiation Of important
character would have been promptly anu iuii'
reported to this government by Commissioners
Rockbfu Al the same time, II is conceded that
the representatives at Picking may have reached
a tentative agreement which they have not yet
submitted in final or definite form to the Chi
ress authorities and in this case ii is considered
probable that Mr.. Rockhill might not consider
the matter Of sufficient urgency to be communi-
Gated 70 Washington. Even in this view Of the
case, however. il is evident that the State De-
partrent does not regard the London dispatch
in a serious light
II is not denied here that the United States
and England are. generally speaking. in accord
on the question Of forcing China to pay an in
demnity although there has been nothing like
the understanding on this point between the two
governments broadly hinted at in London. The
United States frequently has expressed the view
that the amount demanded Of China should not
exceed S2000000O0, and Great Britain has not
been willing that the figure should go below
$3.50 600 600. Hence it is not believed that this
governments representative at Peking would
hastily subscribe TO an agreement which ex-
ceeds by S73 100000 the amount OF indemnity
which the United States has declared was just.
fair and equitable all the interests con-
cerned Chinas ability pay the indemnity
alleged 60 have been agreed on is not doubted
here, provided OF course. that the method OF
collection and distribution be left TO experienced
and capable hands and It is not improba BILE
that this government eventually would give Its
assent to the alleged s273.Oo0.OOO agreement
after the full details of the negotiation had been
forwarded here for consideration. But in the
absence Of specific information. the United
States WILL Of course. insist its first PROPOSE
fion as the basis for settlement of the claims
against China.
This government also feels a keen interest in
the form of taxation that Will be resorted to in
the final settlement. While there is no disposi-
tion 70 take sides with any Of the rival powers,
the United States nevertheless feels that its
interests will be best subserved by seeing to ii
that there is not imposed upon the already over
burdened revenues Of China any hardships
which logically might lead at no distant day to
a dsmemberment Of the empire by a process of
individual partitioning the part OF the Euro
pean nations under the guise Of necessity to coll
lect a debt declared 10 be just by all the ma
tions that had voice in determining the amount
of indemnity On this all the European
nations are more or less under suspicion in
Washington, with Russia, Of course, being sub
jected 10 the greatest suspicion. So apprehen-
sive has this government been from the incep-
tion Of the Chinese negotiations that the United
States would be inVeiged unconsciOusy into
some far reaching scheme OF spoliation in China
that the greatest possible caution has been en-
Joined on the American representative at every
step in the negotiations. 1t is not, therefore,
likely that Commissioner Rockhill would enter
into any indemnity agreement which exceeds in
amount this governments estimate without first
obtaining direct authority from Washington &c
do so: and Mr.. Rockhill has not yet even asked
for such authority.