The Grit-advocate., 1900-09-28
AMERICAS POSITION
ON CHINESE QUESTION

anu llllSl Ill dAS W I'll ~ HUI
them as to the attitude OF the United
States toward various phases of the
Chinese situation. The forecasts of
these notes made in the press appear
to have been accurate, for, although
nowhere in the text is reference made
to the withdrawal of United States
troops from China, the official state
ment issued by the Navy Department
in advance of the publication of the
notes bears out the prediction that the
government finally has decided upon
such Il material reduction of its mill
tnry force as will amount to Il with
drawal of the army as an offensive in
Strumcnt. This statement from the
Navy Department, moreover, is full of
significance of Il purpose on the part
of the government to see to it that if
there is any subsequent attempt al ter
ritOral aggression on the part OF any
of the powers who already have de-
clared themselves as willing to abide
by the expressed determination of the
United States to refrain from Selling
upon Chinese territory then the United
States is to lose no right or privilege
which it now enjoys by such action.
The notes themselves are brief. cousid-
cring the Importance of the topics
treated The Russian and Chinese an
Swers. being in the form of diplomatic
memoranda, are short to Il degree rare
ly seen in diplomatic exchanges. But
in both cases. being completely rcSpon
sive and favorable to the inquirer they
will escape criticism on that score.
The reply to Germany is as follows:
Sir-In response to your inquiry of
the 10th instant as to the attitude of
the government of the United States in
regard to the exemplary punishment
of the notable leaders in the crimes
committed in Pekin against internal
tional law, l have the honor to make
the following statement:
The government of the United States
has from the outset proclaimed its pllr
pose to hold to the uttermost account
ability The responsible authors of any
wrongs done in China to citizens of
the Emitted States and their interests.
rs WAS stated in the governments COM
municaliOn to the powers of July )
last. These wrongs have been COM
mitted not alone in Pekin. but in many
parts OF the empire, and their punish
mtnt is believed to be an essential clc-
ment of any effective settlement which
shall prevent Il recurrence of such out
RACES and bring about permanent safe
ty and peace in China. 1t is thought
however. that no punitive measures
can be so effective by way of repara-
ton for wrongs suffered and rs de-
terrcnt examples for the future as the
degradation and punishment of the re-
SpOrsible authors by the supreme iin-
peral authority itself, and ii seems
only Just to China that she should be
afforded in the first instance IN oppOr
tunity to do this and thus rchabilitate
herself before the world. Relieving
thusly, and without abating in any
wise its deliberate purpose to exact
the fullest accountability from the re-
sponsible authors of the wrongs we
have suffered in China, the government
of the United States is not disposed
as a preliminary condition to entering
into diplomatic negotiations with the
Chinese government. to join in a de-
mand that said government surrender
to the powers such persOnagcs. accord
ing to the determination of the powers
themselves. may be held to the first
and real perpetrators of those wrongs.
On the other hand. this government is
disposed to hold that the punishment
of the high responsible authors of these
wrongs. not only in Pekin. but through
out China, is essentially a condition to
be embraced and provided for in the
negotiations for Il final settlement. 1t
is the purpose of this government, at
the earliest practicable moment. to
name its plenipOtentiarieS for negotiat-
ing Il settlement with China. and in the
meantime to authorize its minister in
Pekin to enter forthwith its confer
ence with the duly authorized re-