The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-05
EFFORTS BY WASHINGTON
Seeking to Settle the Question With
the Powers.
NO HOPE OF AN AGREEMENT AT PeKIN
Russia Seems Bent Upon Permanent Occupation
of Manchuria. Repre- sensations Have
Been or Will be Made Upon
This Subject TO Powers.
This Subject to Powers.
Qy TIE Assoc lated press.}


Washington, Jan. 4.-The State De-
partment is making a strong effort
to secure an understanding among
the powers 10 serve as a basis for the
adjustment of the question of indem-
nifty to be paid by the Chinese Govern
ment. 1t appears from Minister Con-
gers report that it is hopeless to eX-
pect the foreign ministers at Pekin
to reach an agreement on this impor-
tant sbject and if the problem is to
be solved at all, it must be removed
from Pekin. Therefore the State De-
partment is in correspondence with
other Foreign Offices, but the negotia-
tons have not reached the point where
a successful termination is in sight.
The principal difficulty is believed to
be the enormous indemnitieS demand
ed by some of the powers. The Chi
nese efforts to secure better terms,
which tend to protract the negotia-
tons will add considerably to the sum
total. This is because the expense of
maintaining the foreign military es-
Establishments in China will probably
be assessed against the Chinese Gov
eminent AID the cost of keeping for
eign troops in Pekin at this season of
the year and in country where every
necessity Of life has to be imported
from distance. will make it heavy.
1t is said that the bill of Germany
will be by far the largest and it is a
significant TACT that the German Gov
eminent has allowed its officers on
service in China five fold their regular
salaries, an unprecedented rate, which
the Chinese are expected to pay for.
A series Of regulations has been pro-
mulgated by the Russian Government
for the administration of affairs in
Manchuria, v hich would seem to the
officials here to warrant an apprehen
sion that a permanent occupation or
that territory with its population OF
twenty millions, is contemplated. lr
is believed tbat some representations
either have been or will be made on
the subject 20 the powers. When the
Russian Government announced its
intention to withdraw troops from Pc
kin, it also solemnly declared that las
soon as lasting order shall have been
established in ManchuI'ia, and indis-
pensable measures taken for the pro-
lection of railway construction, which,
according TO formal agreement China
assured, Russia will not fail to with
draw her troops from these territor-
les of the Eeighboring empire, provid-
ed the action of the powers does not
place any obstacle in the way of such
a measure"
Russian representatives here con-
tend that the conditions laid down
in this pledge have not yet been real
lied and they insist that there is moth
ing in the published regulations which
would warrant the assumption that
Russia is not acting in perfect good
faith in this matter. TO clear up any
doubt that may remain on this point,
however, it is possible that an explicit
official declaration from Russia will
be invited on this point.
ANOTHER PUNITIVE EXPOSITION.
Pekin, jan 3.-(Thursday. THE for
eign ministers meet almost daily but
nothing has been decided yet regarding
the discussion of details of the demands
of the joint note with the Chinese pleni-
potentiaries. 1t is probable that the first
meeting between the ministers and the
Chinese ENJOYS will be held at the Span
ish Legation.
Colonel Tulloch with a force, including
a detachment of Austrians and a company
of Japanese, as about to start on punt
tive expedition to Kao Ii Ying, from
which place shots were fired at a patrol,
the officials sending insulting messages
10 the allies. The sending of the eXpedi-
tion is looked upon as the correct thing
despite the acceptance of the joint note
by the Chinese.