The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-19

mercial and industrial promotion. Their
continuance cannot improve the situation
or the outlook. One reason for insistence
on gold payments just now urged is that
some of the indemnity obligations have
been pledged by European governments as
security for loans. 1t is question whether,
in spite of that occurrence, the govern
ments concerned cannot better afford to
waive present exactions than to risk a
fresh enlightenment of mass feeling. Re-
fusal to waive will naturally open to in
quiry the real motive behind the insistence
and put the foreign powers again on guard
against each other over partition and kim
dred issues that were supposed to have
been laid to rest.
AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
Suggestion that the matter be referred to
The Hague tribunal for settlement is heard
from Picking, That there is something to
arbitrate, apart from the conditions and
perils indicated above, may be judged from
a brief prepared for me by an imperial off,
cial of such prominence that he would not
unlikely be selected as one Of the repre-
sentatives of China before that body. This
is merely preliminary pleading, but since
it goes to the record to find the intent be-
hind the protocol, it may be confidently
accepted as setting forth the initial ground
that China would take in reference pro-
ceedings, and on which, later. argument
would be built. He writes:
I'm order to understand the question
thoroughly In all its aspects, it Is impor-
tant to study the history of the negotiation
preceding the final conclusion of the peace
protocol, as recorded in China Blue Book
No. i, of 1902, just as it is important. in
the case of a contract between individuals
when dispute arises as to it's interpreta-
ton or as to it's performance, to recall the
circumstances which led to it's existence.
"It is noteworthy to find, as far as the
Blue Book throws any light on the matter,
that it was only Great Britain who first ad-
vanced the suggestion of making the in
demnity on a gold basis. Lord Lansdowne
telegraphed on the oath of May, 1901, to Sir
F. Lascelles, the British ambassador In
Berlin, the suggestion that the bonds for
the total of 100000 taels were to be is
sued in sterling equivalents at the rate of
IS to the tael. That this was new thought
and which somewhat took the German gov
eminent by surprise is evidenced by the
fact that two days later Sir F. Lascelles
wired back in these. words:
81 saw Boron Won Richthofen this
afternoon. who says he does not understand
altogether what your lordships reasons
are for the proposed change in the condi-
tons for the payment of the Chinese in
IDENTITIES, which has been already SUBJ
mitted to the conference of ministers at
Picking, and which the British and German
representative have accepted. 1t was un-
derstood by the German government that
the bonds, together with the sinking fund
and interest, were to be expressed in taels.
German government has no objection to H.
M. government demanding their share in
sterling, in which case the German share
would be demanded in marks
HAD NOT MENTIONED GOLD.
Previous to this, be it noted, the Ian
guage held in the negotiation had been en-
tirely about silver, and. indeed, even SUBJ
sequent to this. while frequent mention
was made that 45O. 200 taels was to be the
final and definite amount to be claimed
from China. the idea Of the indemnity being
maid i'm gold found only casual EXPRESSION