The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-25
WHAT AMERICA WILL DO
DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE ON THE
CHINESE QUESTION
HER INTENTIONS FULLY DEFINED
The State Department Gives to the
Public Its Recent Correspondence
With Germany, Russia and China.
Germany's Proposal Declined Our
Embassy Not to be Removed From
Pekin-Earl Ii and Prince Ching
Recognized as Authoritative Repre-
sentatives of China.

Recognized as Authoritative Repre-
sentatives of China.
Washington, September 22-The
state department tonight made public
the text of the notes addressed by il
to the governments of Germany, Rus
sia and China in answer TO inquiries
from them as to the attitude of the
United States toward various phases
of the Chinese problem. The forecasts
| of these notes made in the press ap-
| pear TO have been accurate, for, al
| though nowhere in the text is refer
ence made to the withdrawal of the
| United States troops from China, the
official statement issued by the navy
department in advance of the publica-
ton of the notes bears out the pre-
diction that the government finally
has decided upon such a material re-
duction of it's military force as will
| amount to a withdrawal of the army
| as an offensive instrument. This state
| ment from the navy department, more
] over, is full of significance of a purpose
| on the part of the government to see
Il to it that if there is any subsequent
i attempt at territorial aggression on
Il the part of any of the powers who al
ready have declared themselves as will
II ling to abide by the expressed deter
| mination of the United States to re-
/ frain from seizing upon Chinese terri
/ tory, then the United States is to lose
| no right or privilege which it now en-
II joys, by such action.
II The notes themselves are brief, con-
/ sidering the Importance of the topics
/ Hr>no tod tha n
swers in the form of diplomatic mem
4 oranda, are short ito a degree rarely
1 seen in diplomatic exchange but in
both cases being completely responsive
and favorable to the inquirer they will
4 escape criticism on that score.
4 The answer to the German note is
y carefully phrased so as to soften the
/ unqualified refusal of the United
\ states government to make the punish
ment of the Chinese ringleaders con-
dition precedent to negotiations.
Also it is noted that in the expression
Of purpose to insist upon the ufti-
innate and proper punishment of these
offenders, the state department goes
| far beyond the German declaration
on the subject. The announcement
that he department intends immedi-
ately to begin through Mr. Conger
confer ences with Ching and Ii Hung
Chang, although distinctly marking
the fact that these are only prelimi-
nary to final negotiations, will have
the effect to force the other powers 10
an immediate determination of their
politics in this matter. The text of
| the correspondence follows:
GERMANY'S PROPOSAL.
Proposal of the German government
in regard to the delivery of the respon-
sible authorities of the recent crimes
committed in Pekin, and the reply Of
the United States thereto.
(The Imperial German charge DAT
faires TO the secretary OF state. Trans
lation.)
Imperial German Embassy,
washington, September IS.
Mr. Secretary: By direction of the
imperial chancellor. 1 have the honor
to respectfully communicate to your
excellency the following:
The government of his majesty
the emperor, considers as prelimi-
nary condition for entering into diplo-
matte negotiations with the Chinese
. government a surrender of such per-
sons as are determined upon as being
the first and real perpetrators OF the
crimes committed in Pekin against in
ternationla law. The number of per
great; a wholesale execution would bt
averse to THE civilized conscience
Furthermore, circustances would not
allow that even the group of leaders
could be completely ascertained. Bu1
the few among them whose guilt is
. notorious should be surrendered anc
punished The representatives of the
powers in Pekin will be in a position
to make or adduce in this investiga
ton fully valid testimony. The mum
Der of those punished is of less i'm
: portance than their character as prin
| cipal instigators and leaders. Tht
government of his majesty, the emper
| hal If dQDQnd in thlt
, , matter upon the concurrence of all tht
! ! cabinets: for, indifference towards TIT
: | idea Of q just expiation would b.
equivalent to indifference towards :
repetition of the crime.
"The government of his majesty, tn
,, | emperor, therefore proposes to the in
! ! terested cabinets that they reQues
their repres sentatives in Pekin to des
, | ignate the principal Chinese parsonage
: whose guilt in the instigation or exc
. cution Of the crimes is beyong a doubt
"a similar communication is for
| warded to the other interested cabi
nets.
Requesting Of your excellency
reply as soon as is practicable, I EN-
brace this occasion to tender the as
= surance of my mcst distinguished con
I sideration. ''STERNBERG.
= THE REPLY TO GERMANY.
e (Acting Secretary Hill to the imper
It ial German charge d'affairs)
vi Department of state.
s Washington, September q.
h 'Sir: In response to your inquiry o
d the 18th instant as to the attitude o
the government of the United State
in regard to the exemplary punishment
f of the notable leaders in the crime
j. committed in Pekin against interna
tional law, / have the honor 10 max
the following statement:
IN ssTha yOvArnTnAnE nf ho TTnitHi
{, States has from the outset proclaime'
5, it's purpse to hold to the uttermost ac
e countability the / yponsibTe author
If of any wrongs done in China to citi