Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1901 — ASKS THIRTY YEARS' TIME [ARTICLE]

ASKS THIRTY YEARS' TIME

China Offers to Pay Indemnity, Demanding Terms. IS SILENT ON INTEREST. Vnlted State* Still Favors a Reduction of the Amount —Commissioner Rockhill Is Instructed to Continue Dis Efforts to Secure an Abatement. The state department at Washington has been informed in a cable dispatch from Special Commissioner Rockhill that the Chinese peace plenipotentiaries had informed the foreign ministers at Pekin that the Chinese government would assume the obligation to pay the indemnity of $337,000,000 demanded by the powers, but desired thirty years in which to do it, as the resources of the empire would not permit a better arrangement. Acting Secretary Hill sent instructions to Mr. Rockhill to continue to use his influ-

ence with his diplomatic colleagues to secure a still further reduction in the aggregate amount of the indemnity. This government adheres to its assertions that China is not able to pay more than $200,000,000. Nothing was said in Mr. Rockhill’s dispatch in regard to the interest. The answer of the Chinese plenipotentiaries is accepted at Washington as evidence of China’s willingness to comply with any demands for indemnity made by the powers, and to that extent the international situation is simplified. Navy department has sent orders to Rear Admiral Kempff, acting commander of the Asiatic station, to send home the ships Concord, Marietta and Castine during the latter part of the coming summer.. This is in pursuance of the policy announced some time ago of reducing the naval strength in the east. The Bennington, Petrel, Oregon, Newark and Brutus have already been ordered home, so that with these three ships there is a total reduction of the fleet in Asiatic waters to about fortytwo vessels.