Show TAKES DECISIVE STEPS II I Uncle Sam Makes Another Important Move I I I I > in the Development bf then i the-n I Chinese Situation F II I I H i 1 f takes a Reply to Proposition Submitted by I Submited Germany Which Establishes Estab-lishes Most Satisfactory Relations Between Washington and I BerlinFrance Submits Important Proposal Which Seconded by RussiaFrancoRussian Plan is Under Four Heads I Washington Oct Propositions 1 of i a farreaching character concerning China arc being presented In rapid succession suc-cession to this Government The State department had no sooner disposed of one of these propositions today by delivering de-livering a response to the German Government Gov-ernment than It was confronted by an even more Important proposition submitted sub-mitted by the French Government and within half an hour formally ieeurded by the Russian Government ANSWER TO GERMANY The answer to Qermany covered the subject of punishing Chinese subjects and mado known that the United Stales had Instructed Minister Conger along the lines suggested by Germany These Instructions look toward securing the names of the persons deserving chastisement chas-tisement also whether the punishments punish-ments accord with the gravity or the crimes committed and finally in what manner the United States and other powers are to be assured that satisfactory satisfac-tory punishment Is Inflicted Aside from these specific purposes of the note It la regarded as Important chiefly In establishing the most satisfactory satis-factory relations between the Govern ments at Washington and Berlin FRANCORUSSIAN PROPOSAL The FrancoRussian proposal takes a much broader scope and submits a programme under which the negotiations negotia-tions for n complete settlement can be carried forward The French Charge M Thlebaut handed the proposition to Secretary Hay shortly after noon today to-day and held a brief conference concerning con-cerning Jt Half an hour later M de Wullnnt the Russian Charge arrived at the State department and handed to Mr Hay a cable expressing Russian I approval of the propositions Just submitted sub-mitted France Mr Kay gave no I formal answer to the to communications communica-tions as they will go first to the President Presi-dent at Canton IprancoRusslan proposition Is i under I heads namely First punishment I pun-ishment of the gvJlty parties second interdiction of the shipment of arms into China third payment Indemnity to the powers and fourth sufficient guarantees for the future In addition a suggestion It made for the establishment of a permanent legation lega-tion guai d at Peking for the raZIng of the Taku forts and for the maintenance i of n line of communication between Peking and the sea ONE DIFFICULTY MAY ARISE The impression here In advance of action on these propositions by our Government Is that they contain nothing noth-ing essentially unfitting them to be subjects of consideration In a final settlement set-tlement The difficulty which Is likely to arise lies In the placing of proper limitations upon the scope oC each head This Is particularly true of the I subject guarantees and perhaps that of Indemnity Still as already suggested sug-gested each is undoubtedly l n most proper subject for discussion before i the final negotiations are reached and therefore M Delcasses broadest propositions propo-sitions while likely to consume sometime some-time In reducing them to ultimate and binding fpnn may be said to hae a fair reception awaiting them MIDDLE GROUND TO STAND OAs O-As to the Interdiction pf arms the I Slate department already has Intimated that there may be a question fs to us wisdom and there Is reason to believe also that Germany will not view that aso particular feature with approval But there appears to be good reason to expect ex-pect that a middle ground will be cached by contlnliu the interdiction of arms to 0 specified period possibly to be fixed by the time required hy I China within Which to pay the lu dcmnlty The chief objection to the proposition is In Its being permanent 1 I In Its present form What the United States Oovernmnnt particularly desires to avoid Is the I catering ca-tering into of a programme that leans 1 In any manner toward the malntcnano of a foothold on Chinese soil and if i the other propositions relative 10 the maintenance of a line of free and bufe communication between Peking anllI1 1 communicaton sea legation guards could be modified In the direction of temporary tempo-rary exoertlcnls they will be more like ly 1 to receive the support of our l lov eiuimcnt I Is apparent from the complexity of the latest FrancoRun slan proposal that the phase of negotiations nego-tiations thus Initiated will take sonia time l to dispose or TEXT OF AMERICAN REPLY Following Is the text of the American Ameri-can reply to the German note 101 crcd today by Secretory Hay to Puron erel Siernbcrg the German Charge dAC mires The Chinese Minister communicated I communi-cated to the Secretary of State on the Jnd lust i telegram received by him from DIrectorGoneiil Sheng conveying DIectolGonerl big the purport of an Imperial edict tinted September 25 1000 by which the of Princ > degradation and punishment Plnc lLton Tuun and other high Chinese officials Is decreed The Government the United States is disposed fo regard this measure meas-ure aa a t proof of the desire of the imperial im-perial Irc Chinese Government to satisfy tine reasonable demands of the foreign powers for the Injury and outrage I which their legations and their nations J I have suffered ut the hands of evildis posed sufcr persons in China although It hAd I been thought well In view oCthe vagueness houht thC edict In regard to the punishment which some of the Inculpated Incul-pated persons are to receive to signifY to the Chinese Minister the President view that It would be most regretta blo if I Prince Tuan who appears from the concurring testimony of the legations lega-tions in Peking to havo been one OL lons foremost in the proceedings complained com-plained of should escape such full measure or exemplary punlfthmcnt as YI ana the facts warrant or If Kang Chao Shu Chino should receive other than their just deserts With a view of forming 0 Judjjmuni on these points the United States Mln has been Instructed to iBtcr In Peking report Lel whether the edict completel 1 namca the persons deserving ebastise d f mont whether punishments pronc cl accord with the gravity of the crimS Committed T and In what n thDcrhnc ncr the United States and the other powers arc to be assured that satisf satisfactory iahmcnt salsfaelo run Iun is Jnlllcted n Is hoped that Mr Congers replica to these I Interrogatories will confirm wl confr the Government of the United States In the opinion which it I now shares with the Imperial German Government that Vth the edict In question Is an Important Initial step In the direction of peace and order In China paCQ Department of State Washington October 3 l O |