Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14
srs. and other taxes have been imposed


On the date mentioned the value of the
share of the United States in the indemnity
was little more than twenty-four millions
in gold, and thesannusl installments due
this government are now about $4,000,
which have been promptly paid for two
years The amount thus far received has
covered ali of tina claims that have been
allowed missionary boards. churches and
individual Americans, Including their ma
tive servants and tnativH Christians under
the care Of the umissiomaries throughout
China. The justice OF These claims was
determined by a board OF Americans, of
which w. w. RoeA-lflL director of the bu
reau Of American republics at Washing
ton and special commissioner to China dur
ing the Boxer trotibles, was chairman.
A good deal Of dissatisfaction has been
expressed by several of the claimants who
did not receive the amounts they expected.
Several individuals filed preposterous
claims, which were. promptly disallowed.
and the general opinion among the foreign
residents of China Is that most of the
claimants received al that they were en-
titled to. Nearly all of them have been
paid in full; two or three are awaiting set
Element, but all of the business involved
will be closed up within a very short time,
when the Secretary Of State will be COM
palled to confront a very serious problem
which. in his opinion, involves our national
honor and dignity.
A Large Surplus.
Something like $40, 10000 remain to be
paid. ana Ine QucSliOH 49, WIldt Slidil 10
done with the money? According to his
opinion, we have received more than we
are entitled to, involuntarily or reluctantly.
and we cannot refuse 1t or return 1t to
China without casting a reflection upon the
honesty of other nations which have re-
ceived similar or larger amounts and are
no more entitled to them than the United
States. We could not decline our share of
the indemnity without giving .offense, yet
We could not accept 1t without feeling that
our government was imposing upon poor
and feeble nation, which Is already bur-
dened with taxes and needs all the money
it can raise for internal improvements, edu-
cational purposes and to pave the path of
progress.
When General Scott brought home from
Mexico an indemnity In money the national
conscience forbade its acceptance, and 1t
was invested in what is now the Soldiers
Home at Washington, at suggestion of
the late Henry Wilson.
In 1856 we returned to China 100000
which had been paid this government as
An indemnity for damages supposed to have
been suffered in riots at Canton as long ago
as 1885, Shortly after the money had been
received and all legitimate claims had been
settled DR.. s. Wells Williams, the United
States minister at Picking. without the
thority of Congress, purchased a tract Of
land and {. >cted a building upon it for the
use of the legation Congress repudiated
the transaction and Mr.. Williams was COM
PEELED to refund from his own pocket about
great modification and embarrassment
to him, but he well paid for it, because
the legation continued to occupy the prem
Uses and he received 50, 600 a year rental for
nearly forty years, and finally sold the
property to the late Minister DENLY for
$4,000 more than he paid for it. Colonel
DENLY received rent for it until his DEATH
when the property was sold by his executors
to the Korean government at large profit
Thus the government of the United States
has paid more than S125, 600 as rent for a
piece of property it declined to accept for
nothing.
In our diplomatic history where the national
conscience has asserted itself. We once
returned a large sum of money to Japan,
which had been paid indemnity 1t lay
untouched in the treasury for many years.
Other nations accepted a similar settle
ment without stopping to question its JUS
tice. We also returned to Mexico a con-
siderable sum which had been demanded in
good faith TO indemnify certain American
citizens for losses they claimed to have suf-
fered. But afterward, when 1t was dis
covered that the proof was fraudulent. Con-
gress instructed the Secretary of State to
return the fun amount of the award
Legations Might Be Built.
1t Is taken for granted that the SD 0O0. 900
which China is to pay in installments for
the next thirty-eight years cannot be turn
ed into the treasury like other receipts of
the government and used to defray our Or
binary living expenses as nation 1t
should either be returned or invested in
some form of a memorial that shall be a
perpetual reminder to us and to the Chi
nese. Some people take the position that
IT cannot be expended for any such object;
That 1t was demanded and paid for a Spe-
cific purpose-to satisfy our government for
military and naval expenses-and cannot
lawfully be diverted. But that is q rather
strict construction. There Is nothing in the
Ia l1n1r fe,o
or assurance of any kind binding the United
States to do anything In particular with
the money, and the best use that can be
made of it is to set it aside, as 1t accu-
mulates, as building fund to pay for the
purchase of land and the erection of ap-
propriate quarters for the use OF our min
listers and consuls in China, Japan, Korea,
India and other parts of the east. A lega-
ton building at Seoul, the capital of Korea
Is very badly needed. That occupied by
our minister at Tokyo Is also unsuitable In
every way. and not one single consul in all
China is properly housed. Buildings are
very badly needed at the following places
In China-Amoy, Antung, Canton. Chefoo.
Dalny, Foochow, Hankow, Hongkong,
Mukden. Marking, Shanghai, Tien-Tsin.
In Japan-Nagasaki, Kobe, Yokohama
and Tanlsui. Formosa.
In India-Bombay, Calcutta and Rangoon.
And also at Singapore, Penang. Batavia
(Java) and Saigon In French China.
We are now erecting new legation at
Picking, which could be- paid for out Of this
fund. instead Of from the congressional APP
propriation; $4,000 could be devoted for
legations at Seoul and Tokyo, and an aver
age of $4,000 each for consulates at the
other twenty-three places named. The
money is paid as indemnity for the siege of
the legation at Picking; hence the purpose
l have suggested Is equally as appropriate
as the establishment Of the Soldiers Home
with the indemnity brought from Mexico by
General Scott Any twinges of conscience
might be appeased by the erection of a
tablet on each building with an explana-
tory inscription.