Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-12-03

| should be assembled in Chinese waters
as a moral demonstration, under cover
eminent respect for foreign treaty
rights and the suppression of the Box
ers.
The United States. while not partici-
| pating in the joint demonstrate ton.
promptly sent from the Philippines all
! ships that could be spared for service
on the Chinese coast. small force
of marines were landed at Taku and
American legation. Other powers took
similar action, until some AGO men were
assembled in the capital as legation
guards.
of the legations at Pekin. the landing
Of troops and the rescue OF the foreign
ministers.l
Taking as a point of departure. the
imperial ediCt appointing Earl Ii Hung
Chang and Prince Ching plenipOtentiar-
les to arrange a settlement. and the
edict of Sept. %. whereby certain high
officials were designated for punish
ment. this government has moved. in
concert with the other powers, toward
the opening of negotiations, which Mr..
Conger. assisted by Mr.. Rockhill, has
been authorized to conduct on behalf
of the United States.
General bases of negotiation fCrmu-
lated by the government Of the French
republic have been accepted with GER
tain reservations as to details, made
necessary by our own circumstances,
but, like similar reservations by other
powers. open to discussion in the prog
ress Of the negotiations. The DISPOSE
ton Of the emperOr's government TO
admit liability for wrongs done to for
eign governments and their nationals,
and to act upon such additional desig-
nation of the guilty persons as the for
eign ministers at Pekin may be in po-
sition to make. gives hope of a complete
settlement of all questions involved, as
surfing foreign rights of residence and
int On fGr Of III
the world.
I regard as one Of the essential fac
tors Of a durable adjustment the Sc
curement of adequate guarantees for
liberty of faith. since insecurity of
those natives who may embrace alien
creeds is a scarcely less effectual as
sault upon the rights of foreign wor-
ship and teaching than would be the di-
rect invasion thereof.
The matter Of indemnity for our
wronged citizens is a question of grave
concern. Measured in money alone,
sufficient reparation may prove to be
beyond the ability Of China to meet.
All the powers concur in emphatic dis
chalmers Of any purpose of aggrandize-
ment through ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the
empire. I am disposed TO think that
due compensation may be made in part
by increased guarantees of security for
foreign rights and immunitleS. and,
most important Of all. by the opening
Of China to the equal commerce Of all
the world. These views nave been and
NIL he earnestly advocated by our rep
resentatives.
The government Of Russia has put
forward a suggestion. that in the event
Of protracted divergence of views in
regard to indemnities the matter may
be relocated to TIE court Of arbitration
at The Hague. I favorably incline to
this. believing that high tribunal could
rot fail to reach a solution TO less
conducive to the stability and enlarged
prosperity Of China itself than immedi-
ateIv beneficial to the powers.
1.-THE president here tells of our rela-
lions with other foreign countries.
which are very friendly. He deVOtes
considerable space TO our exhibit at the
Paris exposition, the Samoan settle
Tent. boundary questions and other
matters in which the United states is
.c.l ,, 10 tries