Evening star., 1901-06-12
NOT FIXED BY THE POWERS
NOTHING TO SHOW THAT THEY
HAVE AGREED UPON INDEMNITY.
Proposed Submission ito Hague Tri-
bunal-The Decree Regarding
Destruction of Archives.

Mr.. Rockhill's proposition to submit the
Indemnity question to The Haguestribunaf,
it is now learned. carries with IT the ad-
justment Of the total OF .the Indemnity
Through misunderstanding, which was
perhaps purposeIy created, the sum of 400 :
-0Oe,0o0 taeis was supposed to have been
finally agreed upon by1Aall the powers as
the total Of indemnity to he extorted from
China. AS a matter of fact, there is moth
ing official to show that the powers, or,
indeed, majority of them, actually made
this matter Of formal agreement 1t is
true that China undertook to pay an in
demnity of 10000, 600 taels; but it is equal
ly true that this undertaking, doubtless
based upon the misunderstanding above
referred to, was at least in advance of a
formal agreement among the ministers
themselves
Hence Mr.. Rockhill's s proposition to in
clude the total of the indemnity in the
matters to be submitted to The Hague
arbitration. European criticisms based
upon the idea that Mr.. Rockhils PROPOSE
tion to arbitration concerns only the
method of payment are therefore founded
in error, and his proposition is vital. 1t
arbitration plan will prevail Is based upon
the belief that no other scheme SO far
brought forward is sufficient.
Rhe Fire I'm the Forbidden City.
The report in press dispatches from Pekin
that the recent fire in the Forbidden City
followed the issuance Of decree directing
the destruction of the archives is attract
ing much attention among the officials
here, who feel that any such course may
prejudice the early solution of the trouble
at the Chinese capital Thus far, however,
neither the State Department nor the Chi
nese legation has received any such decree.
The information reaching Chinese quar-
ters indicates that the report grows out of
a misapprehenSion of Chinese affairs. 1t
appears that some of the boards in China
have large body of written docum tents,
which are important for local adminiStra-
tfon in a country governed almost entirely
by tradition. But these documents are
often prepared by an ignorant class of sub
ordinateS, and much of the trouble which
has come upon the country Of late years
is attributed to the misguiding dictum of
these subordinates In the interest, there
fore, of intelligent administration. it has
been urged that the misleading documents
be obliterated, so that the traditions might
be maintained by the more accurate and
authentic records of those in authority
This has resulted in sort of wedding cut
of what was considereds bad and unreli-
able, and the permanent establishment of
what was reliable. Instead Of being a
movement toward vandalism. 1t is said to
be in the interests of reform in adminis-
tration.
Whether the recent occurrence resulted
from this movement is not definitely known
here. although those familiar with the situ-
alton regard the incident as in line with the
efforts which the Chinese authorities are
making to overcome the cages leading up
to the recent troubles. 1t is said that in no
event was there any contemplation of burn
ing any buildings. -.5 =