The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-09-26
Text of the Answers
Given to the Powers.
Notes We're Brief But Clear
and to the Point.

l
pa7tmeot topight made public the text
Of the notes addressed by 1t to the gov.
erameots of Germany, Russia aud
China 10 answer to inquiries from them
as TO the attitude of the United States
to.ards various phases of the Chinese
problem The forecasts Of these no'es
made 10 the press appear to have been
accurate, for although nowhere ic the
text is reference made to the vlth
draw of the Uoited States troops
from China, the oficial statement lssud
by the navy department 10 ad-
vance Of the publication of the ootes
bears out the predlctioo that the gov.
ernnept 6oally has decided upon such
material reduction Of It's military
force az will snooat to withdrawal Of
the army as 40 offensive instrument
This statemeu. from the navy de
partmeu., moreover, is full Of sigpl
6oaoce OF purpose oD the part OF the
government TO see to it that ii there as
aoy subsequent attempt at territorial
aggression 90 the part of any OF the
powers vno already have declared
themselves as wil,iog to abide by the
expressed determination Of the Uoltec
States to refrain from sieziog upoo
Cbioese territory. then the UoIted
States is to lose no right or privilege
which it now enjoys by such action.
The potes themselves are brief, Goa
sideriog the i'm portauce of the tropics
treated. Tie Russian aud Chinese 40
swers beiog in the form Of diplomatic
memoranda, are short to degree rare
ly seen in diplomatic exchange. But
10 both cases being complete re-
sponses and favorable to the Inquirer,
they will escape criticism on that score.
The answer to the German note is
carefully phrased as to soften the
unqualified refusal of the Uoised States
government to make the punishment of
the Chinese riogleaders condition
preeeden. to negotiations. Also it ls
noted that To the expression of pur-
pose to insist upon the ultimate aud
proper punishment Of these offenders,
the state department goes far beyond
the Germac declaration 90 the suhjecs.
The announcement that the depart
meut intends Immediately to begin.
tb,ouoh Mr. Copper. confereeces With
Ching aod Ii Hung Chang, although
distinctly making the fact that these
are only preliminary to 6ual uegotia-
tioos. will have toe effect to force the
other powers to an Immediate determio
atop of their policies in this matter
TIE text Of the correspondence follows:
Chinese correspondence. Sept l8
81, 1900
Proposal of the German govern
men. in regard to the delivery Of the
responsible authorities recent crimes
committed in Pekin and the reply of
the United States thereto:
The imperial German cDarge al
faires to the secretary of State
Translation
Imperial German Embassy,
Washington, Sept 10. 1900
Mr. Secretary By direction of the
imperial chancellor have the honor
to respectfully communicate to your
e1cellency the following
The government of his majesty,
the emperor. considers as prelin,i
nary condition for entering into diplo'
matte negotiations with the Chinese
government surrender of such per
sons as determined upon as being the
first and real perpetrators of the
crimes committed iD Pekin against
international Jaw. The number of
perpetrators who served as tools is
too great; wholesale execution
would be sverse to the civilized cen
science. Furthermore, circumstances
would not allow that even the group
of leaders could be completely ascer
tanned But the few among them
whose guilt Is notorious should be
surrendered and punished The re
presentatives of the powers in Pekin
will be in position to make this
investigation fully. The number
first of those punished Is Of less i'm
portance than their character as
principal intigators and leaders
The government of bis majesty,
the emperor, believes that it can
depend in this matter upon the con
currence of all the cabinets, for i1-
difference towards the idea of Just
expiatioB would be equivalent to
indifference towards repetition OF
the crime.
The government of his majesty, the
emperor. therefore proposes to the III
terested cabinets that they request
their respective representative in
| Pokin m 3eaionate the prjncina]