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 was finally fixed at 450,000,000 taels, payable in gold at the rate of exchange fixed in the protocol, with interest at four per centum, in annual payments covering thirty-nine years.

The negotiations on the details had dragged along through weary months and the protocol or peace agreement was not signed by the representatives of the powers and the Chinese plenipotentiaries till September 7, 1901. In addition to the subject of the punishments and indemnity above noticed, the following were its most important provisions: A special embassy to be sent to Germany to convey to the emperor the regret of the Chinese government for the death of Baron von Ketteler, the German minister, and a monument with appropriate inscription to be erected by China on the spot of his assassination; similar action respecting the assassination of the chancellor of the Japanese legation; the suspension of official examinations for five