The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-08
EFFORTS TO SECURE AN UNDERSTAND
ING AMONG THE POWERS
THE ENORMOUS SUMS DEMANDED
By Some of the Powers the Chief OBJ
stacle II the way-Germany's Likely
to be the Largest-This Matter to be
Settled Directly by the Governments.
The Representatives at Pekin Unable
to Agree on This Question-Indica-
lions Of Russia Preparing to Perma-
nently Hold Manchuria.

Washington, January 4.-The state
department is making a strong effort {,
ecu an understanding among the
justment Of the question OF indemnity
to be paid by the Chinese government.
1t appears from Mr.. Conger's reports
that 1T is hopeless to expect the foreign
ministers at Pekin to reach an agree
ment on this important subject, and il
the problem is to be solved at all. 1t
must be removed from the Pekin coun-
Gil and dealt with by direct diplomatic
exchange. Therefore, the state depart
e is in correspondence with other
foreign officers. but the negotiations
have o reached a point where a sue
cessful termination is in sight.
The principal difficulty is believed to
be the enormous indemnities demanded
by some of the powers.
The Chinese efforts to secure better
terms, which end to protract the neg
citations. probably will add consider
ably to the sum total. This is because
the expense of maintaining the foreign
military establishments in China prob
ably will be assessed against the Chi
nese government and the cost of keep
ing foreign troops in Pekin at sea-
son of the 4 and in a country where
every necessity Of life has to be i'm
ported from a distance, will make the
bill very heavy. 1t is believed hat the
bin of Germany will be by far the
largest, and it is a significant fact that
h German government has allowed its
officers on service in China five fold
their regular salaries, an u-nprecedent-
ed rate, which the Chinese are expect
ed to pay for.
A series OF regulations a been pro-
mulgated by the Russian government,
for the administration of affairs in
Manchuria, which would seem to the
officials here to warrant an apprehen-
sion that a permanent occupation OF
that TERRITORY, with its population OF
20, 600, 600 is contemplated. 1t is believed
that some REPRESENTATIONS either have
been or will be made on the subjct tt
the powers. When the Russian govern.
! ment announced its intention to with
| draw it's troops from Pekin it also sol
| emnly declared that 'as soon as last
ing order shall have e established IL
Manchuria, and indispensable measure
taken for the protection Of railway con
struction, which, according to forma
agreement China assured, Russia vii
not fail TO withdraw her troops iron
these territories of the neighboring EN-
pire, provided the action of the pow
ers does not place any .obstacle in tn
way of such 4 measure"
Russian representatives here conten
that the conditions laid down in thi
pledge have not yet beer realized. an
they nsiSt tnat there is nothing in tn
published regulations which would war
II rQ MT ftna q = ro ,ntio- th 4 D,rccin &c -
acting in perfect good faith in thi
matter. To clear up any doubt tha
may remain on this point, however,
is probable hat an explicit official dec
laraltion from Russia will be invite
on this point.