Page:American Diplomacy in the Orient - Foster (1903).djvu/453

 had been punished, and that no more death penalties should be exacted. Through their influence, and that of the Japanese minister, the death penalties were confined to four others, and lesser punishments applied to about fifty.

The question of indemnity was even more difficult of settlement than that of punishments, for in it a measure of cupidity was added to the natural feelings of vengeance. From the beginning the United States had favored a lump sum, in place of filing itemized individual and governmental claims, as the latter would enormously increase the aggregate amount. It was with difficulty and after much delay that this point was gained; and then the amount of this lump sum was a still more debated question. Sir Robert Hart, who was advising both the Chinese and the allies, stated that China could not pay more than $250,000,000 to $300,000,000. Mr. Rockhill proposed that the lump sum should not exceed China's ability to pay, and that the powers would scale down their claims to that amount; that it should be divided equitably among the powers; and that if they could not agree among themselves to an apportionment, that question should be submitted to the Hague Tribunal. These propositions did not meet with approval, Russia and Japan only agreeing to the reference to The Hague, and Japan alone supporting the scaling down of the claims. This action was the more significant in view of the fact that of the five powers principally involved, the claim of the United States was the lowest, and that of Japan next.

The amount of the indemnity to be paid by China