The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-04-12
THE GENEROSITY
OF UNCLE SAM
Disposition to Deal Literally
With China.
TO CUT DOWN OUR CLAIM

Efforts Being Made to Induce Euro
pean Powers To DO Likewise-Evifs
Which Might Follow Should Euro
peans Insist Upon Heavy Indemnities.
WASHINGTON. April 9-The state de-
partment has heard further from Mr..
Rockhill, our special commissioner at
Peking, touching the effort making to
reach al agreement respecting the in.
demnity to be demanded from the Chi
nese government. Mr.. Rockhill's pres.
ent effort, acting under directions from
Secretary Hay, is to induce the minis.
ters of other powers to keep down the
total of their claims TO the amouns
which the financial experts, headed by
Sir Robert Hart, have decided to be
within the ability of China to pay. The
United States government has felt that
on no occasion should the total indem-
nifty claim exceed 100000, 900 sterling,
aud has steadfastly sought to make thaI
figure the outside limit of the claim.
For itself, the state department. claims
$25, 900, 0C0 indemnity, and it has sup.
piled Mr.. Rockhill with data for the
publication of an itemiZcd account
showing the expenditures 1nade by the
government of the United States in the
transportation of our military contin.
gent to China, its maintenance there
and the just claims of the missionaries
who We're American citizens and suffer-
ed Ill property and person from the out.
break.
Willing TO Cut II Duwn.
In its anxiety to avoid depressing
China and TO secure speedy settlement
OF the Chinese question, the United
States government stands willing TO
make heavy cut in its claim provided
the other nations represented mt Picking
will abate their claims i'll proportion.
It is entirely possible that if Mr. Roch-
hill can induce the other ministers 10
make n cut III 80 per cent i'll their in
demnity claims he will do so, though
the apparent result be the loss to the
United States of $l2, 5000
The administration is satisfied that
the great danger OF the situation mt Pc.
king lies i'll delay. Had the representa-.
tions OF Mr. Rockhiil been heedod, the
officials are confident that the formida.
bic rebellion which has now broken out
under the lead of General Tuug Flu
Sian. i'll Snen 81 province. would never
have occUrrcu. MIR. RocInill has salts
fed himself that the Chinese govern.
ment was absolutely sincere when it
pleaded inability to punish this great
general and Prince ruug in the full
measure demanded by the powers
1t is thought here that more modest
demands could have been met by tho
Chinese government and the rebellion
avcrted. The indemnity question also
has consumed an unconscionatle length
OF time, and if it had been settled -.
eral week, or even mon tbs ago. the pres.
ent difficulty, it is believed, would have
been impossible.
1t is the hope. therefore, of the off,
cials here that Tung Flu Slams move.
ment will stimulate the tagging minis.
ters ut Peking to final action. If is does
not. If the court is obliged to flee from
Sian Fu, aud the great Yang Tss vice.
roys are overslaughed by General Tung
Flu Sian. as seems probable, then all
China will be plunged i'll anarchy, in
the estimate of the officials here.