Evening star., 1900-10-12
REPLY TO THE FRENCH NOTE.
Text of the Document Given to the
Public.

Text of the Document Given to the
Public.
The reply of the State Department to
the French note relative to the bases Of
Chinese negotiations is as follows:
The Secretary of State to the French
Charge d'Affaires.
GSent to Mr.. Thiebaut October TO- 1909
MEMORANDUM.
The government Of the United States
agrees with that Of France in recognizing
as the object to be obtained from the gov
ernment of China appropriate reparation
for the past and substantial guarantees for
the future.
The President is glad to perceive in the
bases Of negotiation put forward in the
memorandum Of October the spirit that
has animated the declarations heretofore
| made by all the powers interested, and
would be pleased to see the negotiations
begun Immediately upon the usual verifica-
| ton of credentials
1t may be convenient to enumerate the
clauses of the memorandum and to add
some observations dictated by the attitude
Of the United States in the present cir
cumStanceS.
l. The punishment of the guilty parties
who may be designated by the representa-
tives Of the powers at Pekin.
The Chinese government has already in
y iisa tss = p5Sa ft & PWHsi7e W asc s
ders. The Representatives Of the powers at
Pekin may suggest additions to that list
when negotiations are entered upon.
2 The continuance of the Introduction
against the Importation Of arms.
1t Is not understood that this interdiction
is to be permanent, and the duration Of 1t
and the details Of its regulation seem a
proper subject of discussion by the nego-
tiators
3. Equitable indemnities for the govern
ments, corporations and private individuals.
This is an object desired by all the pow
ers. The Russian government has sug-
gested that in case of protracted diver
gence of views, this matter might be COM
mended to the consideration of the inter-
national court of arbitration of The
Hague. The President thinks this sugges-
tion worthy the attention of the powers.
f. The organization In Pekin of per-
manent guard for the legations
The government of the United States Is
unable to make any permanent engagement
of this nature without the authorization
of the legislative branch, but in the pres
ent emergency we have stationed in Pekin
an adequate legation guard.
5. The diSmantling of the forts at Taku.
The President reserves the expression Of
his opinion as to this measure pending the
receipt of further information in regard to
the situation In China.
9. The military occupation of two or three
points on the road from Tien Tsin to Pekin.
The same observation which has been
made in reference to No. applies also to
this proposition. The President is unable
to commit the United States to a perma-
nent participation in such occupation, but
he thinks it desirable that the powers shall
obtain from the Chinese government the
assurance of their right to guard their le
cations in Pekin and to have the means
of unrestricted access to them whenever
required.
The President believes that the govern
ments of France and the others powers Will
see in the reserves we have here made no
obstacle to the initiation of negotiations on
the lines suggested and he hopes 1t will
be found practicable to begin such nego-
tiations at early day.
Department of State.
Washington, October TO- 1900.