The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1900-09-29
AMERICAS POSITION
On CHINESE QUESTION


text Of the notes addressed by 1t to
the governments Of Germany, Russia
and China In answer to inquiries from
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 q material reduction Of Its mill
tary force as Will amount to with
drawal Of the army as an offensive In
strument. This statement from the
Navy Department, moreover, Is full OF
Significance of a purpose on the part
of the government to see to 1t that II
there IL any subsequent attempt Mt ter
ritOrial 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 10 lose no right or privilege
which 1t now enjoys by such action.
The notes themselves nre brief, cOnsid-
ering the Importance OF the topics
treated. The Russian and Chinese an
swers, being In the form of diplomatic
memoranda, are short to degree rare
ly seen In diplomatic exchanges. But
in both cases, being completely respon-
siye 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 ms 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 interna-
tional law, l have the honor to mako
the following statement:
The government of the United States
has from the outset proclaimed its pur-
pose to hold to the uttermOst account
ability the responsible authors Of any
wrongs done in China to citizens of
the United States and their interests,
as was stated In the governments COM
muDication to the powers of July 3
last. These wrongs have been COM
mitted not alone in Pekin but in many
parts of the empire, and their punish
ment Is believed to be an essential elc-
ment of any effective settlement which
shall prevent 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 80 effective by way OF repara-
ton for wrongs suffered and as de-
terrent examples for the future as the
degradation and punishment of the re-
sporslble authors by the supreme iIn-
perial authority itself, and it seems
only Just to China that she should be
afforded in the first instance an OppOr-
tunity to do this and thus rehabilltate
herself before the world. Believing
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 tho United States is not disposed,
as q preliminary condition to entering
into diplomatic negotiations with the
Chinese government, to join In de-
mand that said government surrender
to the powers such personages, 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 condition to
be embraced and provided for in the
negotiations for final settlement. 1t
is the purpose Of this government, at
the earliest practicable moment, to
name Its plenipotentiaries for negOt1at-
ing a settlement with China, and In the
meantime to authorize Its minister In
Pekin to enter forthwith its confer
ence with the duly authorized re
representatives. of the Chinese govern
ment, with a view to bringing about q
preliminary agreement whereby the
full exercise of the imperial power for
the preservation of order and the pro-
lection of foreign life and property
throughout China, pending final ne
gotiations with the powers, shall be
assured.