Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-15
Minister WI Comments on the Slow
ness of the Powers.
TRADE WITH THE WORLD FALLS OFF
Discusses the Proposed Amount
of Indemnities.
CHANCE FOR GENEROSITY

The Chinese minister has returned from
several days stay at Atlantic City. and
was at the State Department today I'm con-
ference with Secretary Hay on the status
of negotiations at Pekin. The minister is
somewhat concerned over the delays which
are occurring in bringing about a final adj
juStment, and also as to the current reports
that the indemnities reach very large
figure, which he fears Will be beyond the
ability of China to meet. He refers to
these subjects in no spirit of criticism. ',ut
rather with regret calculated to be in
furious to the interests not only of China
but of all the powers. When seen at the
legation during the day Minister Wa said
in response TO inquiries on these points:
SIOwness of the Powers.
I'VE have been accustomed to hear that
China was very slow. But in this case
many weeks and months are going by
without any delay attributable to China,
far as / have heard and yet without
definite prospects of bringing the negotia-
tions to a close. This unsettled condition
is very injurious to China, but IL is also an
injury which affects the whole world.
Take, for instance, the cotton industry Of
the south. The shipments to China are
very large, but they have been falling Off
owing to the unsettled condition of affairs
and the trade is seriously menaced. The
same may be said of many other branches
of trade, and in fact, the commerce of all
the commercial nations of Europe, well
as America, is injuriously affected by the
present uncertainty of conditions i'm the
east. What we need, and what the COM
mercial world needs, is stability and some
definite understanding of what conditions
are to be.
Size of Indemnities.
"As to the question of indemnities j re-
ceive little direct information. But ! have
regretted to see from some of the pub
lished reports that the total OF indemnities
is reaching a very large sum. 1t should
be borne in mind that China herself has
suffered great losses through the recent
disturbances-losses which will amount to
many millions and for which she cannot
hope to receive indemnity. So that If the
claims of the powers aggregate xSl4 0bO. 600,
as L see stated, it would probably not be
an underestimate to say that China's own
losses viii reach twice that amount, say
SG00, 100000. In the aggregate, therefore,
China Will be shouldering a burden of
colossal proportions, and this Will come
after the country. has passed through
most trying experience.
Il note that number of suggestions are
made that the indemnity should be along
the lines of commercial advantages and
improvements rather than in money. How
far this is feasible / cannot say. but the
principle involved seems to me good one.
1t has the merit of being unselfish. AS
understand IL the lndemnltleS thus far ask
ed are based entirely on the interests Of
the various powers.
The Interests of China.
But the interests of China are worth
considering in this matter for, after all,
the interests of China have much to do
in the end with the interests of all those
nations having relations with her and
which are carrying on extensive trade with
the east.
There is a splendid opportunity just now
for such an object lesson to the Chinese
people as would obliterate all anti-foreign
sentiment and show them that the interest
taken by foreign powers in China had
something to do with the development and
progress of China well as the personal
interest Of foreign nations. Our people
might be shown the benefits coming from
conSiderate foreign treatment, and they
would be grateful to see China restored to
a condition of. prosperity. AS to details, it
is not for me to suggest what the powers
could do for China and for their mutual
interests, but 1 am quite confident that if
they once put their heads together very
much could be accomplished in the inter-
est of all of all concerned"