The sun., 1901-01-05
CHINESE INDEMNITY.
Powers Heavy Claims Principal
Obstacle In Peace Work.
STATE DEPARTMENT BUSY.
Trying to Secure an Understanding
With the Powers to Serve ms a
Basis For Adjustment of
This Question.

Washington, Jan. 4. - The state de-
partment is making a strong effort to Sc
cure an understanding among the powers
to serve as basis for the adjustment of
the question of indemnity to be paid by
the Chinese government. 1t appears
from Mr.. Congers reports that it is hope
less to expect the foreign ministers at
Peking to reach an agreement on this i'm
portant subject, and if the problem is to
be solved at all it must be removed from
the Peking council and dealt with by di-
rect diplomatic exchange, as was success
fully attempted in the case of the pre-
ceding serious differences 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 difficulty in the way is
believed to be the enormous indemnities
demanded by the powers. The efforts of
the Chinese government to secure better
| terms, so far as they tend to protract the
negotiations, also are expected to have the
result of adding considerably to the sum
|
This is because the expenses of main
tanning the foreign military establish
ments in China probably will be assessed
against the Chinese government, and the
cost of keeping foreign troops in Peking
at this season of the year and in coun-
| try whereseyery necessity of life has to
be imported from a distance will make
the bill very heavy.
i If ic baliaypd tbat ba hill af Gar,,o N =,
will be by far the largest, and it is sig
nifcant fact that the German government
has allowed its officers on service in Chi
ma tivefold their regular salaries, rate
of pay hitherto unknown in military his
tory. The Chinese, however, are ex-
pected to pay for this.
Russia's Attitude.
The attitude of Russia in Manchuria
has given rise to considerable apprehen-
sion here. As indicated in recent news
| dispatches, series of regulations has
been promulgated by the Russian govern
nlent for the administration of affairs il
Manchuria which would seem to the oili
cials here to warrant an apprehension
that permanent occupation of that terri
tory, with its population of 20,000.0OU, i
IN contemplation. 1t is believed that
some representations either have been ol
will be made on the subject to the pow
ers. When the Russian government an
nounced its intention to withdraw its
troops from Peking, it also solemnly de
clared that 'as soon as lasting order
shall have been established in Manchuric
and Indispensable measures taken for The
protection of railway construction, which
according to formal agreement, China as
sured. Russia will not fail to withdraw
her troops from these territories of til,
neighboring empire provided the actor
Of the powers does not place any obstacl,
in the way of such measure"
The contention of the Russian repre-
scntatiyes here is that the conditions lai,
down in this pledge have not yet beer
realized, and they insist that there il
nothing in the published regulations
which would warrant the assumption
that Russia is not acting in per
feet good faith in this matter. r,
clear up any doubt that may remain OF
this point, however, it is probable that
an explicit official declaration from Rus
Sia will be invited on this point