CABLE NEWS. THE CHINA WAR.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9951, 27 December 1900, Page 2

CABLE NEWS. THE CHINA WAR.

THE AGREEMENT OF THE POWERS.

Punishment of Offenders. Wily Li.

United Pness Association. 8y Electric Velegrbph — Copyright. (Received Dec. 27, 1 a.m.) London, Dec. 26* The allies hare agreed tbat any ally withdrawing troops from China for whatever reason shall not affect the concert, „

Senor de Galogan, Spanish Minister at Pekin, by virtue of his seniority, has handed the Powers , joint Note to Prince Ching with Mr Congers 1 explanation that America signed believing that the arrangement was best under the circumstances, but disapproving of some severe terms of the Note.

Senor de Calogan hoped that an early reply would be given to the Note, which had been carefully prepared with every desire to preserve the reigning dynasty and to avoid harshness towards the nation. He hoped the Peace Envoys would urge upon the Emperor the necessity of immediate compliance therewith. The Pekin correspondent of the The Times states that the Chinese officials have declared tbat China can accept all the conditions of the joint Note without losing her face.

The American newspapers are bitterly disillusioned at President McKinley yielding to the allies in China on all points. Mr Conger's (American Ambassador's) explanation why he signed the Note is regarded as being no real protest. The Russian organ Novoe Vrem>;a considers that the stipulation introduced at the instance, of Britain that the troops remain in China until the fulfilment of all conditions makes the Note an ultimatum. It holds, however, that Russia remains unaffected, inasmuch as Manchuria is outside the jurisdiction of the authors of the Note.

Other Russian organs foresee the prolongation of the crisis in China, in view of preventing international intervention in South Africa and strengthening Count yon Waldersee's hands.

As China was the offender the Ministers decided that tbe Chinese Peace Envoys shonld call upon the Spanish Legation to receive the allies' joint Note. Prince Ching brought his credentials with Li Hung Chang's. He assured the Ministeis of the Emperor's speedy reply, the Court feeling China's exclusive need 'for peace and prpsperity. Li Hung Chang sent a letter apologising for his absence owing to illness. * The Standard's Shanghai correspondent states that China has arrested Prince Tuan and Prince Chung on the borders of the Shang-si and Shen-si provinces. Yuh-shien has been ordered to Singan-fu, it is believed witn a view to his execution.

It is inferred that China is preparing to concede the allies' demands for the punishment of the anti-foreign leaders.

The Ministers at Pekin had a stormy meeting in consequence of Li Hung Chang learning of the progress of their meetings, although the Ministers were pledged to secrecy. An Imperial edict has been issued to spontaneously open Wuchang to foreign trade.