The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-11
WAR NEXT SPRING
Correspondent of London Times
Regards as Temporary
The Present Cessation of Hos
tilities in China.
BIG STRUGGLE AHEAD
Between the Chinese Imperial
Armies and the Allies.
United States WithdraWs Last
Proposition to Powers.

Chicago, Jan. IA special to the
Record from Vancouver, B. c., says:
Captain P. c. Lockhart, correspondent
of the London Times in China, who ac-
companied Gen Gaselee's relief force,
left for New York en- route to London
today. Speaking of the situation in
China, he said.
I think that so far as Ii Hung Chang
himself is concerned he is perfectly sin
cere in his position of mediator, but my
observation leads me to judge that any
agreement the Chinese make now would
be kept by them no longer than it suited
their convenience. The empress dow
ager will by spring have a tremendous
force of men armed with modern rifles
at her command. and neither she nor
Prince Tuan has the slightest chance of
falling into the hands of the allied
forces. Next summer will see the great
struggle between the well organized
boxers under the empress and Prince
Tuan and the allied forces in their at
tempt to- seat the young emperor firmly
on the throne
WE BACK OUT.
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE proposition
submitted by the president to transfer
the negotiations of the questions of in
demnity and revision of commercial
treaties to some other place than Pelxin
was designed to facilitate the conclusion
of the Chinese negotiations as whole
by separating those still requiring con-
siderable deliberation from those al
ready determined. AS some of the pow
ers do not look with favor upon this
separation and others hesitate to decide
the question. the president has deemed
it adVisa BILE to withdraw the PROPOSE
ton and has directed the diplomatic
representatives of the United States to
so inform the governments to which the
proposition was addressed
Al the same time desiring above all
else to avoid delay in the progress of the
negotiations the president has directed
Mr.. Conger to urge forward their com
pletion at Pekin. The other govern
ments also have been urgently requested
to avoid all unnecessary delay in COM
pletlng the settlement of the Chinese
question.
form the important action determined
upon and carried out yesterday. AS
specifically stated, the action was
brought about because some of the DOW
proposal, while others held back in Civ
ing their decision. Under these circum-
stances IL was manifest to the officials
here that unity of action was impossible
and as long as even one power declined
to accept the proposition there could be
no effective agreement for removing
these two subjects of negotiations from
Pekin. 1t is understood that the action
just taken does not involve the slight
est feeling of disfavor toward those
powers which viewed the matter un-
4dhOIdOly OI nciQ OdCk III giving IntiT
decision. Both the president and Secre-
tary Eay acted on the suggestion of Mr.
Conger, in the hope that this might Of
fer a means of breaking the apparent
deadlock at Pekin and open the way to
a final adjustment. Now that this phase
of the negotiations IS closed the officials
feel that it would be ungracious to dis
close just what powers did not look with
favor upon the removal plan and they
decline to confirm the current specula-
ton to the effect that much of the op-
position has come from Berlin. The in
structions to Mr.. Conger to urge for
ward the completion of the negotiations
at Pekin were forwarded late in the day
Mr.. Conger was not heard from today
NO OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION
Washington. Jan. 1.-THE state depart
ment was unable to give official eOnfrma-
ton today to the report that the Chinese
nese enVOys.