Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-02
FUNDS NOT ENOUGH
ministers at Pekin Discuss China'S
Resources,
Mr.. ROCKHILL OPPOSES LIKLG DUTIES
American Legation Guard VIII
Maintain Its independence.
2OCKHILL OPPOSES LIKIE DUTIES
4 REPORT AS TO GERMANY

PEKIN. May at Il meeting of tn" min
isters Yesterday the report Of the Indemnity
committee was read. Regarding the re
sources of China the report vas very
voIuminous. 1t was practically a repetition
Of Jameson's wen-known pamphlet upon
the subject. Sir Robert Hart offered sEg-
gestions similar to those already credited
to him and cabIed to the Associated Press.
1t is claimed that the revenues from ali
available sources viii not allow China to
pay the indemnity unless assistance IS rem
dered
The next meeting Will he held r9Et Tues
day Tn. subject of Count Won WalderSea's 5
letter VIII then be taken NJ and q re"!y to
it VIII then ne drafted. The ministers per
sonaIly object to the tone cf the letter
They claim that they know what Jhey want
without being told. They particularly c5-
ject to any of the legation guards beng
under any authority except that Of the min
listers themselves.
Wants boundary Taxes Abolished.
1t is believed here that the hitch which
is said to have arisen at Pekin over the
pronosition to increase the Chinese Gus
toms duties to meet the indemnities de-
rnaufed bv the foreign powers is caused 10y
the broachfrg by Mr.. Rockhiu Of his plan
for the abolition of the likin duties as a
condition for his acqUiescence i'll the Gus
toms increase.
The United States government has in the
mast admitted Il readiness to permit the
Chinese to increase the custom rates pro-
y-iffus, that there was no discrimination
between the powers. Minister wa says
that the present > per cent rate Is tot'ulE
for a new loan. BY treaty all foreign goods
entrrin. China pay custom duty OF per
cent aG vaIOren. But the payment pelnS
made I'm silver. China nets only - per cent
gold. When Ii Hung Chang visited WASH
inn.-Ur several wears ago he talked with
Secretary Carlisle about the luadequacy or
thesa customs revenues to MAINTAIN the
Chinese government, and secretary tar-
HSIa VS. favorable to an increase Of rate to
point that would net China at least per
cert uu sol" basis
The lfktu tax is paid by foreign goods
every time they cross the borders Of a
province. and is even eNacted as between
inter1royincial towns. Not only is this tax
onerOus in amount and almost prohibltlve
of a certain class Of imports, but it leads
TO corruption. for q large part of the tx
sticks, it IS said. TO the fingers of local off,
Gals. Mr.. ROckhiu has always maintained
that foreign goods could stand a consider
able increase Of the customs rat" II rs an
Offset the likiu duties We're abolished ana
II has been his purpose 10 work to Jh;tt fE l.
He has no hostility TO the proposed iuqui-
ries according 10 the view taken here, II
he can secure that valuable concession IN
return.
The American Legation Guard
Il IS said ct the War Department that the
legation guard at the American legation at
Pekin viii not he subjected 10 the order OF
anv foreign general Official reports of the
latest phases Of the negotiations at Pekin
as reported In the press dispatches have not
yet reached Washington. and it is suggested
as a possibility that the demands IN this
regard Of the international generals are not
unqualified. still. if they are. the American
legation guard viii retain Its Independence,
even If ii j. necessary TO that end 10 re-
move II from PelNin, and from China The
latter course might become necessary IN
case one Of the powers formally declares
war upon China and exercises its right TO
cause the withdrawal Of all neutral forces,
but under existing conditions the guard Will
probably remain
Alleged German Acquisition.
Germany was one Of the powers that sub
scribed heartily to the suggestion of the
United States that no nation make private
arrangements with China for the enlarge
ment or acquisition of concessions, so the
officials here are Ioath TO believe that the
Germans have taken steps to acquire a con-
cessiJn. at Canton. 1t was without doubt the
insistenCe by the United States upon the
force Of this agreement that checkmated
Russian designs upon Manchurla for the
time being.
Scaling Down the Demands.
The German and French ambassadors and
Mr. RogestvensEly, for the Russian ambas-
sador, were among todays callers on DR..
Hill acting secretary Of state. The discus
sion was almost entirely Chinese af
fairs, the press dispatches as to agree
rlent on S213 O0O 0pO Indemnity and on a
change of customs duties having excited
considerable interest in official and diplo-
matte quarters None Of the callers was
able TO confirm the reports. but the opinion
was general that an agreement on indem-
nitv had been reached.
The prevailing view was that 1912 600 900
represented n compromise between the min
imum amount urged by the United States
and the maximum urged by other powers
One Of the most anxious points Of Inquiry
Is what share each country Will receive out
of this S213UOOOOO
The original total of claims amounted to
half n billion dollars. that the present
total represents scaling down Of about 40
per cent. At this rate the claim of the
United States which originally about
S2JGNn.G0. would be scaled down to about
S1scu1.COO.