Evening star., 1901-06-15
NEW CHINESE RELATIONS
1T is BELIEVED THEY WILL BE
CONDUCIVE TO OUR TRADE.
Minister COnger Speaks of the Time
When Peace and Order Have
Been Established.

Minister Longer, accompanied ny uAS
brother. DIR. Conger of Pasadena. Cal, was
at the White House today for conference
with the President. The minister also
called at the State Department and went
over the Chinese situation with Acting Sec
retary Hill. After concluding his confer
ence here he will go to Boston and Michi-
gan, returning then to his home in Iowa
before starting back to China.
AS the indemnity question will probably
be disposed of by the time Mr.. Conger
next move and more particularly as to the
new treaties with China.
There is every reason to hope" said he,
that the re-established treaty relations
will be conducive to American trade and
commerce in China. The immediate ques-
tion is to dispose of the indemnity and to
re-establish peace and order. Attention
will then be given to the new treaty re-
lations contemplated by the protocol. In
the main these will follow the usual course
of treaties of amity, friendship and naviga-
ton. They will not necessarily call for an
entirely new fabric of treaties, for con-
siderable remains of the old treaty that
may be made applicable in the new system.
In this connection the friendly feeling felt
in China toward America will be helpful
Mr. Conger was asked if China's condi-
tion would be ultimately benefited by the
ordeal through which it had recently
passed.
Il think it will be-" said he. "It Is not
all this trouble if 1t had not been foreseen
that good to all parties concerned would
ultimately come of it. The undermining
process is going on to a considerable ex-
tent in China, and with the immediate
issues disposed of, indemnities paid and
order restored, China will again be in a
position to develop the wonderful resources
she possesses and do her part in the work
of the world
Guaranteeing the Indemnity.
The news dispatches from Pekin convey
to the official mind here the belief that what
is known as the British-American plan of
settling the indemnity question is making
headway, and that it will in the end be
adopted as the only feasible scheme. The
firm attitude of the United States in de-
clining to enter into a joint guarantee of
the enormous bond issue is believed to have
had its effect in inclining the ministers to
accept the British-American proposal. 1t Is
certain that any movement toward the set
tlement of this indemnity question must
result in unanimity to be of any effect
whatever, and, though it was true that a
large majority of the powers favored the
joint guarantee, with the other details of
what Is known as the Russian program,
yet they realize that it would be nOn-effec-
tive without the support of the United
States and Great Britain.
Yet this British-American proposal Is re-
garded containing within itself the prin-
ciple of joint action in a degree quite suf-
ficient to meet the needs Of the case, while,
at the same time, the provision for the dis
bursement of interest among the powers
pro rata Will prevent any Independent ac-
ton by a power to collect arrears through
the seizure of territory or otherwise.
Although often mentioned, the details of
the British plan have not heretofore been
given, and they We're learned today from an
authoritative source to be as follows:
The Chinese government is to issue bonds
to each of the powers to the amount of the
indemnity due each. These bonds are to
bear 4 per cent interest, with clause pro-
viding y per cent for amortization. Certain
Of the Chinese revenues, not specifically des
ignated in the proposition, are to be ear
marked for the liquidation of the bonds. A
committee appointed by the foreign powers
is to take charge of questions relating to the
revenues thus ear-marked. and the commit
tee is to arrange details by which the rev.
enues are to be applied on the bonds. In
case Of default on the bonds the default Is
to be to the committee and not to the sew
eral powers. The foregoing is In substance
the entire proposition, but later 1t was
proposed in addition that the period OF the
bonds be thirty years, and that they be is
sued in installments In this form the prop
osition stood up to within a few days ago.
but it is not known in what particulars it
may have been modified of late days by the
,riS