Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1900-09-28

and Earl Ii.
Washington, D. C.-The state de
partment Saturday night made public
the text Of the notes addressed by 1t
to the governments Of Germany, Rus
sia and China In answer to inquiries
from them ~ to the attitude Of the
United States toward various phases
Of the Chinese problem. The notes
themselves ara brief considering the
Of the topics treated. The
and Chinese notes being In
the form Of diplomatic memoranda
are short to degree rarely seen In d.
plomatio exchange. But In both
cases being completely responsive and
favorable 10 the inquirer, they will
esoape criticism on that score. The
answer to the German note is care
fully phrased 10 o. to soften the un-
qualified refusal Of the United States
government to make the punishment
Of the Chinese ringleaders condition
precedent to negotiations. Also it Is
noted that In the expression of q pur-
poes to insist upon the ultimate and
proper punishment of these offenders,
the state department goes far beyond
the German declarations on the sub
jeot. Tho announcement that the de-
partment intends to begin Immediate
ly, through Minister Conger, confer
snoes with Ching ana IA Hung Chang.
although distinctly marking the fact
that these are only preliminary to
final negotiations, will have the effect
to force tho other powers to an imme-
date determination of their policies
In this matter. The text of the cor :
follows:
"Acting Secretary Hill to the Impe-
rial German Charge d'Aftaires. Depart.
ment Of State, Washington. D. c.,
Sept. 81, ieo0.--Sir: In response 60
your inquiry of the 18th instant, as to
the attitude of the government of the
United States In regard to the exem-
plary Punishment OF the notable lead
ers In the crimes committed in Pekin
against International law, have the
honor to make the following state
ment:
I" The government of the United
States has from the outset proclaimed
Its purpose to hold the uttermost &C.
oountability the responible authors Of
any wrongs done in China to citizens
Of the United States and their inter
ests, a. was stated In the govern
msnt's circular communication to the
powers OF July third last. These
wrongs have been committed not alone
In Pskin, but in many parts Of the
empire and their punishmen is be-
leved to be an essential element Of
any effective settlement which shall
prevent q recurrence Of suoh outrages
and bring about permanent safety and
peace In China. II IL thought. how
ever. that no punitive measures can
be 20 effective by way Of reparation
for wrongs suffered and ~ deterrent
examples for the furture as the degra-
dation and punishment Of the respon-
sible authors by the supreme imperial
authority itsslf, and 1t seems only
just to China that she should ba
afforded In the first instance an op-
portunity to do this. and thus rehab-
ilitate herself before the world. Be-
lievlng thus and without abating in
any wise its deliberate purpose to ex-
act the fullest accountability from the
responsible authors Of the wrongs we
have suffered In China, the govern
msnt Of the Onited States is not dis
posed. as q preliminary condition to
entering into diplomatic negotiations
with the Chinese government. to join
In . demand that said government
surrender TO the powers such persons
a., according to the determination Of
the powers themselves, may be held
to be tue first and real perpetrators
Of those wrongs. On the other hand
this government is disposed to hold
that the punishment Of the high re-
sponslble authorities Of these wrongs,
not only in Pekin. but throughout
China, Is essentially condition to
be embraced and provided for in the
negotiations for international settle
mens. 1t 10 the purpose OF this gov
ernment, at the earliest possible mo-
msnt to name its plen,potentiaries for
negotiating settlement with China