Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-05
SECRETARIES TO TAKE 1T UP
Chinn's Indemnity Proves Too Nnotty
n Problem for Ministers TO
Dispose OF.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.--The state de-
partment is making a strong effort to Sc
cure an understanding among the powers
to serve as a basis for the adjournment OF
the question of indemnity to be paid by the
Chinese government. II appears that Mr..
Conger's reports that 1T is hopeless to ex-
pect the foreign ministers at Pekin to
reach an agreement on this important sub
ject, and If the problem is to be solved at
all It must be removed from the joint
council and be dealt with directly by diplo-
matte exchange, as was successfully at
tempted in the case of the preceding seri-
Gus difference between the ministers.
Therefore, the State department is in
correspondence with other foreign offices
respecting this subject, though the nego-
tiations have not proceeded to point
where IT can be said that successful ter
mination is in sight. The principal difi-
Guilty in the way is believed to be the
enormous indemnities demanded by some
of the powers.
The efforts OF the Chinese government
to secure better terms. so far as they tend
to protract the negotiations. also are ex-
pected to have the result of adding con-
sderably to the sum total which must be
paid in the end. This is because the ex-
penses OF maintaining the foreign military
assessed against the Chinese government.
and the cost of keeping foreign troops IN
Pekin al this season of the year, and in q
country where every necessity Of life has
to be transported from distance, will
make the bill very heavy.
Germany VIII Demand Most.
II is believed that the bill Of Germany
will be by far the largest and it Is a
significant fact that the German govern
ment has allowed its officers on service in
China fvefold their regular salaries, a
rate Of pay hitherto unknown in military
| history, The Chinese, however, are ex-
pectod to pay for this.
The attitude of Russia in Manchuria has
given rise to considerable apprehension
| here. As indicated in recent news dis
patches, a series OF regulations has been
promulgated by the Russian government for
| the administration of affairs in Manchuria,
| which would seem to the officials here TO
warrant an apprehension that permanent
occupation of that territory, with its popu-
lation of twenty millions, is in contempla-
tion. It is believed that some representa-
tions either have been or will be made
on the subject to the powers. When the
Russian government announced it's inten-
tion to withdraw its troops from Pekin II
also solemnly declared that as soon as
lasting order shall have been established
In Manchuria and indispensable measures
taken for the protection of railroad con-
struction, which, according to agreement
China assured, Russia will not fail to with
draw its troops from three territories OF
the neighboring empire, provided the ac-
tion OF the powers does not place any OBJ
| stacle in the way of such measure"
The contention of the Russian repre-
sentatives here is that the conditions laid
down in this pledge have not yet beer
realized and they insist that there Is
nothing in the published regulations which
would warrant the assumption that Russia
Is not acting in perfect good faith in this
matter. To clear up any doubt that many
remain on this point, however, It is prob
able that an explicit official declaration
from Russia will be invited on this point