The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-02
SUN CH|NA HAS IOPAY
INDEMNITY COMMITTEE OF THE
PEKIN ENJOYS PRESENTS
IT'S REPORT
THE TOTAL IS s27s,ooo.ooo
MINISTER'S HOPEFUL OF REACHING
AN AGREEMENT REGARDING
ITS DIVISION
FOREIGN TROOPS IN CHINA
Count Won WaIdersee Transmits to
the Ministers Recommendation
of Generals in Regard to
Their Retention.

PARIS May 1.-The foreign Office has
received a dispatch from Pekin announc-
ing that M. Pichon, the French minister,
presented today the report Of the com
mittee on indemnity. The amount China
is to pay has been fixed at 1865, ,000, 900
francs. How it is proposed that the in
demnity shall be distributed among the
powers is not set forth; but, as the dis
patch does not mention The Hague, it is
thought the ministers are hopeful Of be-
ing able to settle the proportion to be re-
ceived by each power by discussion at
Pekin.
Official advices received here from Pc
kin say the minister are divided into two
parties in the discussion to decide how
China is to raise the indemnity. France,
Germany Russia and Japan agree in
favor of raising the customs duties,
which can be relied upon to produce a
great part of the requisite sum, and the
imposition of duty on junks which will
construct tax on inland navigation and
the taking over of some of the Likin
provincial transit duties).
On the other hand, the United States
and Great Britain decline to agree TO an
increase of the customs duties, but they
do not apepar to have presented a coun-
ter proposition. The fact that the United
States and Great Britain have joined
hands on this question has caused sur
prise here. 1t was hoped the United
States would stand with France and Rus
STA. The result will be to greatly protract
the negotiations.
FOREIGN TROOPS NEEDED.
PENIN, Tuesday, April Sc-Field
Marshal Won Waldersee, in the letter
which he sent to the ministers today as
the reply of the generals to the views of
the ministers regarding the military
questions discussed yesterday by the
generals in conference says a garrison
of 5000 men should he left at Tien 'Tsin
and the adjoining district, Great Britain,
France, Germany and Japan to con-
tribUt2 400 men each, and Italy to con-
tribute 400 men. To garrison Shan Hal
kwan, France, Russia, Great Britain
and Germany are to contribute 900 men
each and Italy one company until the
forts are raZed So long RS any forces
occupy Chinese territory the foreign mill
tary comanders must exercise the full
authority of a civil administration, ac-
cording to the principle established at
The Hague in. 1899 They may remain in
office as the case Of Pao Ting Flu, and,
partly, Tien Tsin.
Besides the 5000 men In the Tien Tsln
district, warships which must always be
in the Pei-Ho, will preserve conlmunica-
tion with the international fleet at TakI.
TO allow this administration to depend
in any respect on the mandarins. would
be an utter impossibility Frictions
would arise Immediately which would
lead to difficult conflicts which would be
better avoided The placing of the civil
administration under the military has
further great advantage. It would be in
convenient to the Chinese government
which would, therefore, endeavor ito get
rid of it speedily by the settlement of
peace conditions.
When the troops at Tien Tsin are re-
duced to 1000 by the granting of, pos
sibly, a quarter of the concessions, then
the question of an absolute ChRlese ad-
ministration may be considered.
The creation of a chief command is de-
sirable for purely military reasons as in
cases of disorder or troubles of any kind
military measures will be required The
measures must take place where those
troubles occur and the authority of the
comander-In-chief must also extend to
the legation guards at Pekin.
Count Won Waldersee thinks the min
isters' statement that there had never
been military administration or a per-
manent military organization in Pekin
as the corps with banners could not be
considered as such, to be incorrect His
investigation showed that a strong gar
rison of troops was at Pekin, with the
latest modern arms.
concerning the question of evacuation,
opinions were divided. The British
Japanese and German commanders were
of the opinion that the evacuation could
not commence until China had accepted
the prescribed conditions and paid TIE
total indemnities. The French command
er would commence by withdrawing
5000 in a fortnight and completing the
withdrawal of the troops in six weeks,
leaving only colonial troops here, on ac-
count of the climatic conditions. The
Italian and Austrian commanders had no
instructions and Gen. Chaffee, the Amer
lean commander abstained from express
ing an opinion. Gen. Wogack, the Rus
sian commander was not present at the
recent meetings of the generals, and
Russia was not represented.
The question of evacuation is most diff
ficult on account of the approaching hot
season, which is very injurious to the
health of the troops, and which, also
Will increase the costs of the war in
demnity immensely, result in the loss of
hundreds of soldiers and probably mean
the retention of the troops for the win
ter. The generals were unanimously of
the opinion that the question could be
more speedily solved if the ministers
would treat separately regarding tho
amount of indemnity and the method of
raising it. The second part of this Dues
tion must take many months before
solution can be found, ON account of tho
difficulty Of the matter. If the question
of indemnity is considered first and China
expresses her willingness and ability to
pay, the moment will have arrived to
commence the evacuation the execution