The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-31
PUNISHMENT COMMITTEE
Met Yesterday to Consider what to DO
20 Chinese.

Pekin, January 50.-The ministers
punishment committee met this morn
ing 70 continue the discussion OF what
measure OF punishment to demand for
provincial officials where foreigners have
been killed. The ministers refused to
furnish any information as to the result
of their deliberations.
A meeting Of all the ministers VIII
probably bs held tomorrow.
Three Italian soldiers Intending to loot
entered a house occupied by MIR Jsmsa,
an American, near the legation, suppos-
ing 1t to be Inhabited by Chinese. They
insuIted Mr.. Jameson's guests and Mr.
Jsmefon sent for the guard stationed at
the legation. In the struggle an Italian
was wounded. They were all arrested
and turned over to the Italian authorities
who have requested an explanation.
The missionaries last night, met and
prepared final resolutions whichIwere pr =
sented to the British minister, Sir Ernest
Satoww and TO Minister Conger today.
The preamble sets forth the fa,t mt
sufficiently emphasized in the note" that
the Chipese attacked everything rel re-
sentinR progress, that thsre has been o
adequate rsbuke for the hasrant violl-
tlon OF treaties and that no indemnity is
asked for the Christian Chinese who
suffered heavy loss. Finally, the mission
aries say, nothing has been inserted In
the note safeguarding the missionaries
and they earnestly requested Sir Ernest
Safow and Mr.. Conger, to see that the
former treaties protecting missionaries
are reafiirmed, that the governm snt
should be forced to allow Chinese of any
rank to accspt Christianity without in
jury to their prospects, that the mission
aries should be allowed to live in the in.
terror, own property and possess pass
ports compelling their official acceptance,
that friendly intercourse between the
missionaries and officials be encouraged
and that relief should be found for the
luffering native Christians. The mission
aries earnestly hope that Great Britain
and the United States Will take leading
part in the coming transformation CT
China, helping the rulers to enter lines
OF reform which alone can save the
60 lutry.
SOLDIERS COURT MARTIALED.
Pekin, Jan. ga court martial which
has. ,aussd considerable interest has been
held in lien Tsin during the last two
weeks. The men on trial are privates
Diokson and Ssamons, Of the fifteenth
infantry. IL was published In October
last that these men while on guard duty
along the river, held up several villagers,
demanding from a hundred to two hun
dred taeIs protection money and in some
cases their demands were complied with.
They were captured by the French and
turned over to the American authorities
During the trial Dickson escaped aud
is still at liberty. Seamons YVES sentenced
to twenty years imprIsonment-a and Dick
son TO twenty-one years.
Three hundred nrominent Chinese resi-
dents of the kiang So province have sent
a memorial to the Emperor requesting
His Majesty to make public announce
ment OF certain date for his return to
Pekin lin order to satisfy tins people.
They assert that the Boxer troubles were
entirely due to few high officials, but
as these officials have now been ordered
to be punished, the court ought to re.
turn to Pekin, as the palaces, tombs and
other property are there and the RESPONSE
bilities of two hundred years cannot
lightly be thrown aside.
The Chan Pao. Chinese paper, be-
means the destruction OF the lien Tsin
wall, the whole of which is now bsing
levellsd, and laments that q work which
occupied three hundred years in constrnc-
ton should be destroyed In a space of
comparatively few days. 4
DEMANDS ON CHINA.
SHANGHAI .Iannar4 % -Nafiva naners