The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-12
REPLY TO FRANCES NOTE
DELIVERED To FRENCH REPRESENTA-
TIVE AT WASHINGTON
TERMS OF THE REPLY FAVORABLE

To the Proposals Of France, Though
Our Government Does Not Commit
Itself to AIl-DipIomatic Negotia-
ton In China Checked by Recent
Military Operations of the Allies.
Not Participated in by Our Troops.
Military Affairs in Hopeless Con-
fusion.
Washington, October 10.-The reply
of the United States government to
the latest note from France offering
suggestions as to the settlement of the
troubles in China, was completed late
today and delivered to NJ. Thiebaut,
charge d'affaires of the French embas-
sy. By him it was forwarded imme-
diately to his government.
No official statement of the contents
Of the answer was obtainable. Fol-
lowing the infiexible rule, the state de-
partment declined to make public the
text Of the communication or to make
any statement of the nature Of it's con-
tents, until opportunity had been af-
forded for its reception by the French
foreign office.
1t is believed, however, to take a ia
vorable view of the suggestions sub
| mitted by the French government, in
a general way, although it does not
commit this government to all of them.
AS to the first of the proposed French
terms of settlement, the punishment
of the principal culprits, this govern
| ment has already declared itself in un-
mistake terms.
AS to the second. the maintenance
| of the inhibition against the import OF
arms, this government will not declare
| itself to the point of making it an alb
solute prerequisite to further negotia-
| tiOns
| AS to the third and fourth PROPOSE
| tiOns providing for equitable indemni-
| ties to states, societies and individuals
and the formation of a permanent
| guard for the legations in Pekin, cor
| dial assent will be given.
AS to the fifth, which requires the
| dismantlement of the Taku fortifica-
tions, this government is not disposed
to go quite to the length of making it
| an indispensable condition, as does the
| French note.
| The sixth of the French conditions
reads as follows: Military occupation
| of two or three points on the road from
|
! thus always open to the iegationS wish
| ing to go to the sea or to forces pro-
| ceeding to Pekin from the sea-
| This paragraph would seem to make
| 1T obligatory upon the powers to main
tain garrisons at these points, and,
| while the conditions are such as to
! make their present occupation neceS-
sary for the safety of the members of
| the legations and others desiring to
travel between Pekin and Tien Tsin,
| this government is disposed to make
| the demand as a matter of right, to be
| exercised by any or all of the powers
| at will
| Recent happenings in China, and es-
pecially in the province of Chile, have
| so far set back peace negotiations that
it may be a matter of weeks or even
months before the peace commissioners
| will be able to get to work.
| 1ll-considered military operations in
| Chile and elsewhere in China are said
to be responsible for the check which
diplomacy has met in reaching a set
tlement. Through the efforts of the
| state department. seconded by the more
moderate powers, a steady and syste-
| matte pressure has been brought &c
bear upon the Chinese emperor to
bring about his return to Pekin. The
| representations from the great south
ern viceroys to the emperor, setting
out the 'impossibility of supplying the
court with money and food if it per-
sisted in retreating to Tsinan Flu, in
Shensi, was but one Of the means which
had been resorted to at the instance OF
this government to secure the return
Of the court. All efforts were neu.
tralized, however, by the spasmodiC
and unnecessary activity of the allied
military forces. There was no necessi
ty whatever for the Pao Ting Flu ex.
pedition, in the judgment of the Off
Gals here and that venture was the
straw which determined the imperia
court to flee to the western mountains
Ii Hung Chang and the viceroys o
the south have pledged themselves tt
maintain order and guarantee protec
ton for foreigners and property il
| their respective provinces. This was
made a condition precedent by the
United States government to the estab
| liShment of relations with them lookins
to the initiation of negotiations for
final settlement. According to all re
ports that have reached Washington
the viceroys had lived loyalty up t,
their promise in spite of irritating mill
tary expeditions and movements o
various kinds set up against their pro
tests and, therefore, it is regarded a.
particularly unfortunate that the alice
forces should persist now in the expe
dition against Pee Ting Flu. 1t is no
known here whether or not the Ger
, mans are the moving force in this pro
, ject and contrary conclusion is draw
from the fact that Waldersee is not it
directing head. Each nationality ap
| pears to be moving at the will of it
military commander, and military af
fairs in China, as viewed in Washing
ton, appear to be in a hopeless confu
sion In this state of affairs satisfac
. ton is felt in the fact that the Ameri
can troops are not in any manner in
volved in the activities of allied force
and it is said that the movement look
ing to their withdrawal will proceed un
interruptedly.