The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-10
ecmmfseioner RockhiII Instructed te
Use His Influence to Secure
Reduction of the Total.
ONLY $25,ooo,0oo INDEMNITY
ASKED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE UNITED STATES,
And IL IL willing TO Cut thnt Sum i'm
Two IL other Nations VIII Like
wise Scale Their Demands.

WASHINGTON, April 9.-The Cabinet to-
day gave some attention TO the subject of
Indemnity to be required of China, IL be-
Ing brought forward by Secretary Hay
In connection with Mr.. Rockhills dispatch
received since the last meeting. Great sur
prise was expressed at the enormous to-
tai OF the claims which, being all before
the ministers at Peking, approximate the
vast sum of a half billion dollars. More
over, at least one Of the powers insists on
keeping the account open until 1t elects to
withdraw entirely from Peking at remote
date to be fixed at its own will, thereby
leaving the total of it's claims TO be in
creased greatly hereafter The opinion
OF the other Cabinet officials completely
accorded with that of Secretary Hay as TO
the desirability of securing a reduction Of
the claims. Mr.. Rockhilrs principal ef-
fort, acting under direct instructions from
Secretary Hay, is to induce the ministers OF
other powers to keep down the total Of
their claims TO the amount which the finan-
cial experts. headed by Sir Robert Hart.
have decided to be within the ability Oh
China to pay. The United States govern
ment has felt that on no account should the
total indemnity claim exceed e4O0O0.0OO
sterling and has steadfastly sought to
make that figure the outside limit of the
claim. For itself the State Department
claims Sc5.000O0o indemnity. and it has
supplied Mr. Rockhill with data for their
presentation of an itemized account show.
ing the expenditures made by the govern
ment OF the United States IN the transpor-
tatfon of our military contingent in China,
its maintenance there and the just claims
of the missionaries who were American
citizens and suffered in property and person
from the Boxer outbreak.
In its anxiety to avoid expressing China
and secure a speedy settlement of the Chi
nese question the United States govern
ment stands willing TO make heavy cut in
its claim. provided the other nations repre-
sented at Peking will abate their claims in
proportion. 1t is entirely possible that if
Mr.. Rockhill can induce the other ministers
to make a cut of 80 per cent. in their in
demnity claims he will do so, though the
apparent result be the loss to the United
States of sl2,50O.0O0.
The administration is satisfied that the
great danger of the situation at Peking lies
in delay. Had the representation of Mr..
Rockhill been needed the officials are conf
dent the formidable rebellion which has
now broken out under the lead of General
never had occurred. Mr.. Rockhill had sat-
isfied himself that the Chinese government
was absolutely sincere when ii pleaded in
ability to punish this great general and
Prince Tuan In full measure demanded by
the powers. Ii is thought here that more
modest demands could have been met by
the Chinese government and the rebellion
averted. The indemnity question also has
consumed a long time and if il had been
settled several weeks even months ago
the present difficulty, it is believed, would
have been impossible. 1t is the hope, there
fore, OF the officials here that Tung Flu
Slams movement will stimulate the tagging
ministers at Peking to final action. If it
does not; If the court is obliged to flee from
Si-Ngan-Fu and the great Yang-Tse vice
roys are overslaughed by General Tung Flu
Sian, as seems entirely probable, then all
China VIII be plunged into anarchy, in the
estimate OF the officials here.