The Washington herald., 1907-06-19
Big GIFT FOR China
President Would RelinquiSh
S40.000.000 Claims.
PART OF BOXER INDEMNITY
Congress VIII BE Asked to- Approve
Cancellation of Enormous Debt.
Action Expected To Make Trouble
for European Nations Who May
Have 20 Follow Our Example.

II Congress shall consider the matter
Of the Chinese indemnity in the same
altruistic manner as does the President.
this country practically viii make the
Celestial empire a present in the near
future of something more than $4,000, 600.
As a word OF farewell to the Chinese
Minister, Sir Chentung Liaug-Cheng who
is soon to return TO China 70 become vice
president Of the foreign office at PekH,
the State Department has advised him
that il IS the wish OF this government 10
remit all claims for indemnity against
China on account of the Boxer troubles.
except the actual cost TO the United States
incident TO the Pekin campaign and the
loss sustained by American missionaries.
This vii amount only 10 about Sl100,gl0
II is the intention OF the President IN
his next annual message % Congress TO
recommend that all further demand for
indemnity on the part of this country be
reIinqushed Inasmucn as the award was
made by am international commission and
sanctioned by treaty agreement between
this country and China. il viii be neces-
sary for Congress 10 authorize the Presi-
dent % cancel all claims i'm excess OF the
two items stated-that caused by the loss
Of life and property by the missionaries
and the actual expense of maintaining
troops and vessels and other disburse-
ments incident TO the Boxer campaign.
Total Reaches s54,OOO,OOO.
The amount which the United States is
entitled to receive, and which China has
obligated herself TO pay, is S25,Coo,00O
which, together with interest running over
a period Of thirty-nine years. would az
gregate the grand total Of approximately
$54,000,GJ which China would be COMPEL
ed to pay otherwise. The claims Of the
missionaries originally were in the neigh
borh0od Of 100000, but they were
shaved down and the water squeezed out
so that the final sum allowed was not far
from 100000 This amount China al
ready has paid. In addition, she has
paid about 100000. which has been
turned into this Treasury to reimburse
the United States on account Of its as
slstance in putting down the rebellion
and relieving and protecting the lives and
property Of American citizens
This leaves only about 100000 yet TO
bs paid to the United States TO make this
country square on account OF the Boxer
outrages. As the amount is being paid
off at the rate Of Sl,0o0oO0 a year or
thereabouts, It is estimated that the re-
mainder can be paid in five or six years
Should the United States demand any
more, 1t would be entirely velvet" and
this, the United States. as the good
friend Of China, does not desire to exact,
and hence the President viii ask Con-
greSs for authority to relinquish the pay
ment
VIII Give Europe Worries.
This action is not unlikely to produce
among the European pow
ers, all of which put in large bills. and
forced China to agree to pay them when
she was not in position TO refuse. Prac-
tically all of them, it is said were far In /
excess Of the actual loss sustained. and
they are certain to be embarrassed by the
course which this country is likely to take
in remitting all charges except actual
cost and sufficient sum to remunerate
the missicns for their losses.
The President has decided upon this
after careful considera-
ton Of the subject, and his determination !
IS so firmly fixed that it was regarded as
not going TOO far to inform the Chinese |
minister officially of the purpose before /
he left Washington. This action. it is be- |
ieved. not only will more firmly cement |
the friendly relations between the United |