St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-01-09
The Chinese Situation.
Disagreement over Endemnilies.

DIsagreement over HndemniIies.
For the second time since the negoti-
ations among the foreign ministers began
at Pekin the American government has
found 1t necessary to appeal dir, c ly TO
the powers to hel p the ministers over a
diplomatic barrier which they were un-
able to scale. The first instance of this
character was when the ministers were
considering the punshments sections of
the demands to be made OF China, and
would not agree on punitive measures
with which the CHINESE government
would be able to comply. The second
case involves the question of indemnity.
According to advices to the state d, p ,rt.
ment from Minister Conger, the outlook
is hopelt SIS Tor an agreement among the
diplomatic represent itives as to the
amount and character OF the ind tmn,t7
to ne INSISTED on by the powers. This
Information was not surprising to the
Offic,a's here who have been concerned in
the Pekin negotiations, hut they believed
that the ministers would not reach
deadlock so soon. The officials were
graified, therefore, when Mr.. COnger's
adVceS came, as much time has been
saved by so early a conclusion among
| the representatives of the powers that
they could not hope to reach harm0ni
Gus underst andiug in the matter Of in
| IDENTITIES, huS enabling he several for
| eign offices Of the nations involved to
take up TOR consideration Immediately
the details OF a problem which would
ultimately have b'en referred to them
Acti g on Mr.. COnger's advices, the
state department has asked Japan and
| the several powers OF Europe to begin
| the consideration at once, through regu.
| lar d plom4t channels, of the indemnity
! question. As the other ministers at Pc
kin are supposed to have advised their
respective governments of the hopeless
ness o reaching conclusion, it appears
| to be assured that there will be no dis
sent from the suggestion OF the United
/ States. The Russian Government sug.
| gtsted early in the negotiations between
the powers hat the natter OF indemni.
ties be LETT to the adjudication of the
permanent tribunal OF arbitration ap.
pointed as the outgrowth OF The Hague
| disarmam MT conference. This idea was
Endorsed by President McKnly. No
conclusion in the matter was reached,
| however, and the ministers at Pekln
were left to wrestle with the task OF
| bringing into accord the diverse views OF
their nvernmens. The question OF
making new commercial treaties, to
which China has assented, presents an
other dipl tangle. 1t is probable
that the ministers will be unable to agree
on the terms OF general treaty OF com
mrrce w til China which will he accept.
able TO their governments and the course
suggested BY h Unite ates il regard
to indemntes is kelly o he lowed.
New Years Day in Pcking.
The advent OF the new year and the
new century was celebrated in Picking or
an elaborate scale. TIL. discharge oil
numerous guns at midnight ere tied a
scare, aud many troops were sent tC
discover whether the city had bee n at
tackled or whether it was Boxer rising
General Cbaffee held his reception in the
morning. Minis err Conger rec iv, d il
the afternoon. A feature which cauSeC
considerable comment was a review o
the British troops in honor OF Q ieen VIC
toria and OF Anstrali in Federation, t.
which all the nations were invited tt
send representatives, but not single
Frenchman was present.
With the Kaiser's Men.
Field Marshal Count Won Walderset
attended he British New Vars review
gave the royal saluteand ed the cheering
TINS was in striking contrast to thu
action of the British. Offices, none
| of whom attended the German parad,
on Christmas Dav, While the Germans
at Peltang were firing a New Year salute
an explosion was caused by a defective
cartrlcge and five men were killed. Five
Others were mortally and nine severely
wounded.