The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-22
|HON CHM Is TO PAY
QUESTION THAT Is NOW OCCUPY
ING THE ATTENTION OF THE
FOREIGN ENJOYS
ENGLAND Is CONSERVATIVE
WANTS TO SEE INDEMNITY HELD
DOWN To SOMEWHAT REA-
EONABLE FIGURES
REPORT FROM MIR. RoCKHILL

LONDON, May A.-The government was
questioned in the house of commons today
on the question of the British tug Ewo
incident at Tien Tsin, when two Chinese
on board that vessel were fatally shot
by Germans guarding a bridge after the
ing had fouled 1t. The under foreign sec
retary, Lord Cranborne, in reply, said
Field Marshal Won Waldersee had ex-
pressed his regret, and had promised to
take measures to prevent the recurrence
OF Similar incidents.
Lord Cranborne proceeded to make a
general statement on the Chinese ques-
tion, saying the governments chief con-
cern at present was to moderate so far
as possible the demands for indemnity
and ses they did not infringe on COM
mercial interests. The government was
therefore unalterabIy opposed to raising
the import duties to 10 per cent as
curity for payment Of the indemnity, and
in reply to all such suggestions; sig
nifed that Great Britain would not con-
sent to such raise Of duties in con-
rection with commercial improvements In
the Chinese financial system, such as the
abolition Of the Likin taxes. AS to mod
Grating the total indemnity, there were
more ways than one OF achieving that
object and Chinas burden might be per-
ceptibly lightened by the method of ex-
acting payment. In regard to the pro-
posal that the indemnity be betrayed by
loan guaranteed by a concert Of the
powers undoubtedly Chinas obligation to
pay the indemnity was joint obligation,
and, though he hoped it would not be
necessary, if such a loan was guaranteed,
1t would have to be by the Joint force OF
all the powers. The objection to joint
guarantee, however, was so obvious that
the government would have nothing TO
do with it. Considering that British credit
stood higher than that of any other pow
er, while Great Britain only claimed
small portion of the indemnity, it would
be nothing short OF insane to agree to
Jointly guarantee the loan. After men
tioning that three high-placed delinquents
had been executed; that three had been
permitted to commit suicide; that four
had been banished, and that the powers
had demanded the punishment of 10
provincial culprits, Lord Cranborne con-
cluded by saying that on the whole the
affairs Of China were entering on a moro
pacific phase, and that the government
hoped to soon withdraw a large portion
Of the British troops from that country
Lord Lansdowne, the foreign secretary
made q statement In the house OF lords
similar to the one made by Lord Gran
borne in the house Of commons.
In regard to the withdrawal of troops,
the foreign secretary said $500 British
troops would leave Immediately From
the first, Great Britain had indicated an
objection to be drawn into expeditions
remote from Pekin. He believed the feel
ing was shared by the other powers who
desired the arrival Of the moment when
1t would be possible to withdraw from
China
REPORT FROM ROCkHILL.
WASHINGTON, May H.-The state de-
partment has been made fully acquainted
by Mr.. Rockhill with the character of
the propositions relative to the floating
of the indemnity loan unfolded at Pekin.
While grave objections are perceived to
the Russian project for a joint guarantee
of the loan, because of the immense diff
flculty Of securing the assent Of congress
to an agreement which would entangle
the United States with foreign nations
for moro than quarter Of a century at
least, there is nothing in Mr. RockhtlPs
instructions that would cause him to an
tagonize the British proposition provided
it is fully developed SO as to secure the
safety Of the loan while assuring the
integrity of China. It is suggested that
these objects can be best secured by
causing China to deliver to eacn nation
bonds, bearing 4 per cent interest to the
face value Of that nations indemnity
claim. The nation holding the bonds
could dispose of them at it's pleasure II
could affix it's own guarantee and sell the
bonds in the open market. The claim for
the collection and distribution of interest
contains the germ of the guarantee of
Chinese integrity. 1t is proposed that an
interest board of fnanciers collect peri
odically from China the amount of in
come which the ministers ait Pekin have
decided can be extracted without ruin
ing the country, this money to be divided
up between the powers in the shape of
interest In exact proportion to the bond
held by them. In case of default by
China, each nation will lose in proportion,
and special covenant will bind each
power to refrain from individual action
against China to secure the payment of
the arrears or to seize territory in lieu
Of interest in default. 1t is calculated
that thus each power will find 1t to its
interest to prevent a division of China.
The postoffice department today cabled
instructions to China, directing all its
representatives in the military postal
service there to leave or the first avail
able transport. H M. Robinson, of At
lanta superintendent of the service there,
has been assigned to duty In the Philip
pines, but all the others will return TO
the points whence they were assigned
to China. This marks the close Of the
United States military postal service in
China.
SURPRISING BOXERS.
BERLIN, May IA dispatch from
Field Marshal Won Waldersee, dated
Pekin, May IS, says 200 Chinese were
killed and wounded as a result of the
explosion at the Kalgan arsenal, May 10.
The Boxer movement sought Of Pao
Ting Flu apparently Is being speedily
quelled by Gen. Bailloud, the French
commander, beyond the Southern line Of
demarcation the Boxers, Gen. Bailloud
reports, are being dealt with successfully