The Portland daily press., 1900-09-22

Washington, Septem Der 21-The United
States government has made full and
complete answers to the various import
ant inquiries that have been addressed to
it by the powers relative to the Chinese
trouble. Moreover, it has gone farther
and has made a disclosure of all It's pur-
poses, and as a member of the admins
tration puts it, it has thrown Its hand
open on the table This action was taken
after the cabiret meeting today, and a
luncheon at the White House that fol-
lowed, served to reduce the decision to
the ultimate form. At half past three
O'Clock Minister WI called by appoint
ment upon Acting Secretary Hill and was
handed a memorandum embodying the
response of the United States government
to the request OF Prince Ching that MIR.
Conger or some other person be immedi-
ately empowered to begin negotiations
with the Chinese authorities for a final
settlement.
The minister came away with dissat-
istied expression upon his face Next
came M. Thiebaut, the French charge.
A few minutes's conversation sutfioed to
impart to him orally an answer to his
own verbal inquiry.
Then Baron Sternberg, the German
Oh arge who had been notified of the read
mess Of the State Department. to make
answer to the German note, called and
was given that answer. he hastened
away to cable it to his government.
The department. then sent an answer to
the Russian inquiry forwarded by mes
senger and wired cablegrams containing
the substance of the answers to its dipIo-
matte representatives abroad. Thus
closed one of the most interesting and i'm
portant phases of the Chinese entangIe-
ment. The State Department absolutely
refused to make any statement as to the
nature of the answers, taking the ground
that to do so would be a violation of the
diplomatic proprieties. However, as it
was calculated that all of these answers
will Ehave reached their destinations
abroad by tomorrow it was promised that
the text of the communications should
be given to the press tomorrow afternoon.
The ministers and charges who received
the messages here adopted the same Sc
cretive attitude. The President himself,
it seems, had given instructions that ev-
cry effort should be made to maintain Sc
crecy in this matter until the official dis
closure.
With all this 1t is known that the Ger
man proposal that negotiations with
China be deferred until the Chinese re-
sponsible for the sPek1n outrages have
been surrendered to the allies, has failed
OF approval by our government. The dec
nnation has been conveyed in manner
that cannot give offense, but it is believed
that the United States government can
not recognize the principle that a country
may be called upon to surrender it's own
citizens to a foreign power or powers for
punishment. The government does not
relinquish the idea of the ultimate pun
ishment of the offenders when they are
properly identified, but it does not be-
Iieve the pursuit Of this object should put
a stop to all negotiations The idea of a
commission to adjust the difficulties with
China is again brought forward, and 1T
is suggested that such a commission on
the part OF the United States may either
form part of the joint International COM
mission which it is hoped Will be appoint-
ed for this purpose, or, in the event OF
the failure OF the effort to secure joint ac-
ton, then the members can go on and
alsdirectly with China for settlement.
One fact concerning the United States
answers, that was learned officially, is
that-they contain no new proposition;
they simply clean away the debris OF un-
answered inquiries.
PART AUSTRIA TOOK.
Vienna, September s1.-An official des.