The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-28
CHINA ASKS FOR DISC0NTINUkNCE
 OF BOXER DEBT

Pekiny Oct. 2S. A plea for re- mission of the unpaid balance of the Boxer Indemnity as one of the ad- vantag ges that China might reasona- bly, expect as a result of the Wash ington Conference is put-forth by the Peking Daily News. a student-con- trolled daily. The paper declares ed itoria1ly that it's appeal is not to in ternational altruism, but Is based on justice.
 Granted that the Chinese were en- tiIely to blame for the events of 1900 and the Chinese of the present day are willing to admit it despite the in cendiary record of the powers in the decade that preceded the rebellion the indemnity was all out of propor- tion to the losses incurred by the aIIies,'' it Is argued.
 When the day of reckoning came the other powers--to her last1n credit. Japan was one of them-were aghast at the outrageous claims ad- vanced by Germany and Russia Germany especially was rapacious in her demand for her pound of flesh After much deliberation all the pro- tocol powers except Germany, ac- knowIedged the unreasonableness Of the charge on China, and only accept ed the position when the German rep resentative imperilled the unanimity of the negotiations
 The writer cites Dr. H. B. Morse in his international Relations of the Chinese Empire" quoting him as fol- lows:
 '"The American envoy urged that a demand for a lump sum within China's capacity to pay should be made, aand the claims of each pow CT sealed down to fit that sum. The German envoy say no reason why the powers should show excess sive generosity in the matter of cut ting down claims. The American plea for moderation there fore failed
 "At the behest of Germany" the writer continues, "the other allies agreed to saddle China with the debt which they acknowledged in the off cial documents exceeded the justifia- ble amount. International morality would point to the reparatfon of that crime of injustice by g. remission of the portion in excess of the net claims. The opportunity is ripe, with the only recalcitrant power of 1900 out of the way. The allies can now give expression to the feeling that was thwarted by Germany 20 years ago. The Unted States rectified the wrong in 1908 and so eased her na- tiona1 conscience in the matter. Now she proposes to go further than a mere act of atonement by an act of grace.
 ''At the time when the allies allow ed her to suspend the annual pay ments for five years, China had paid abount 40,00O,0O0 pounds two- thirds of the whole In suggesting that 4O,O0O,00O pounds should Iqui- date the initial charges are hot plead ing for international altruism; the plans of justice is sufficient ground on which to advance the plea, and is warranted by the American estimate in 1900. China redressed the wrong of 1900 by dethroning the principal conspirator, and in addition she has paid the greater part of the indem- nifty. In meeting what must seem tC her the eternal payments she is con- stantly reminded of something that she would rather forget and have the allies forget
 The paper concludes with a DOT trayal of China'S illiteracy and points out benefits that would accrue by di- version of the Boxer payments to the promotion of education.