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Show POWERS SPLIT WIDE ON CHINESE CHI-NESE QUESTION. Washington, Sept. 19. The power:? have definitely split on their policy in China. Following immediately the de-mar de-mar 1 of Germany for punishment of the leaders of the revolt as a preliminary prelim-inary to negotiations. France and Russia Rus-sia today announced their purpose to gp ahead with the peace negotiations. An important conference . over the answer to the German note was held at the White House tonight. The parties par-ties to the conference were the president. presi-dent. Attorney General Griggs, the only cabinet officer in the city; Dr. Hill, acting secretary of state: Assistant Secretary of State Adee, who by executive exec-utive order is acting secretary of war. The president entertained them at dinner and the subsequent conference lasted until 12 o'clock. At its close one of the participants said no final action was taken. It is understood, however, that the answer of this government as now framed, is in effect a diplomatic refusal re-fusal to accede to the German proposal. pro-posal. The first definite determination to be-gili be-gili peace negotiations with China seems to have been reached by the French and Russian governments, which have made known their purpose to proceed with negotiations with Li Hung Chang and Prince Ching as soon as feasible. . As France is acting with Russia, this determination appears to remove any prospect of a modification of the Rus-so-Franco determination to withdraw from Pekin. It also aisposes of all questions as to the credentials of Li Hung Chang, and places France in a position of being ready to proceed on the credentials he has brought forward. The German note is based on the theory that no peace negotiations can go on until the Chinese malefactors are surrendered. On the other hand, the Franco-Russiari attitude contemplates contem-plates proceeding with the peace negotiations nego-tiations at the earli'est feasible time, without attaching any indispensable condition as to the prior surrender of the Chinese offenders. |