The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-04


who have misled the Imperial judgment
and diverted the sovereign authority to
their own guilty ends, full expiation be-
comes imperative within the rational lin
it's of retributive justice. Regarding this
as the initial condition of an acceptable
settlement between China and the pow
ers, said in my message of October 18th
to the Chinese Emperor:
81 trust that negotiations may begin so
soon as we and the other offended gov
ernments shall be effectively satisfied of
Your Majesty's ability and power to treat
offenders, who are doubly culpable not
alone toward the foreigners, but toward
Your Majesty. under whose rule the pur-
pose of China to dwell in concord with
the world had hitherto found expression
in the welcome and protection assured
to strangers
Taking as a point of departure, the
Imperial edict appointing Earl Ii Hung
Chang and Prince Ching plenipotentiaries
to arrange a settlement, and the edict of
September 25th, whereby certain high Of
fcals were designated for punishment,
this Government has moved in concert
with the other powers, toward the open
ing of negotiations, which Mr.. Conger
assisted by Mr.. Rockhill has been au-
thorized to conduct on behalf of the Uni
ted States.
General bases of negotiation formulated
by the Government of the French Republic
have been accepted with certain reserva-
tions as to Details made necessary by
our own circumstances, but, like similar
reservations by other powers, open to dis
cussion in the progress of the negotia-
tions. The disposition of the Emperor's
Government to admit liability for wrongs
done to foreign governments and their
nationals, and to act upon such addi-
tional designation of the guilty persons
as to foreign ministers at Pekin may be
in a position to make. gives hope of
complete settlement of all questions in
volved, assuring foreign rights of resi-
dence and intercourse on terms of equal
ity for all the world.
l regard as one of the essential factors
of durable adjustment the securement
OF adequate guarantees for liberty of
faith. since insecurity of those natives
who may embrace alien creeds is a
scarcely less effectual assault upon the
rights of foreign worship and teaching
than would be the direct invasion there
| O..
| The matter of indemnity for our wronged
| citizens is a question of grave concern.
Measured in money alone. a sufficient rep
aration may prove TO be beyond the ability
/ of China to meet. All the powers concur
| in emphatic disclaimers of any purpose
| of ACKNOWLEDGMENT through the dismem-
merment of the Empire. l am disposed
| to think that due compensation NAV be
made in part by increased guarantees
of security for foreign rights and immu
/
| opening of China to the equal commerce
of all the world. These views have been
and will be earnestly advocated by our
| representatives
The government of Russia has put for
ward suggestion, that in the event Of
protracted divergence of views in regard
! to indennities the matter may be reIega-
| ted to the Court of Arbitration at The
Hague. l favorably incline to this believ-
ins that high tribunal could not fail to
reach solution no less conducive to the
stability and enlarged prosperity of China
| itself than Immediately beneficial to the
| powers.
OTHER FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Ratifcatons of treaty of extradition
with the Argentine Republic were ex-
| changed on June I'd last.
While the Hungarian Govern
| ment has in the MANY cases that have
| been reported of the arrest OF our natu-
| rallied citizens for alleged evasion Of
military service faithfully observed the
provisions of the treaty and released such
persons from military obligations, it has
| in some instances expelled those whose
presence in the community of their origin
1 was asserted to have a pernicous infiu-
ence. Representations have been made
against this course whenever it's adop-
tion appeared unduly onerous.
We have been urgently solicited by Bel
| gium to ratify the International Conven-
tion of June. 1899. amendatory OF the
previous convention of 1890 in respect TO
| the regulation OF the liquor trade in
| Africa. Compliance was necessarily with
| held. in the absence of the advice and
/ consent of the Senate thereto. The prin-
ciple involved has the cordial sympathy
of this government, which in the revision
airy negotiations advocated more drastic
| measures, and | would gladly see its eX-
| tension, by international agreement. to
the restriction of the licuor traffic with
all uncivilized peoples especially in the
| Western Pacific.
/ A conference VIII De 0elQ at bTuSSelS
| December 11th 1900. under the conven-
tion for the protection of industrial prop
| erty concluded at Paris March 20th. 1888,
| to which delegates from this country have
been appointed. Any lessening Of the
difficulties that our inventors encounter
in obtaining patents abroad for their in
| ventions and that our farmers. manufac-
turers, and merchants may have in the
| protection of their trade-ma is worthy
of careful consideration. and your atten-
tion VIII be called to the results of the
conference at the proper time.
In the interest Of expanding trade be-
tween this country and South America.
efforts have been made during the past
| year to conclude conventions with the
southern republics for the enlargement
Of postal facilities. Two such agreements
were signed with Bolivia on April oath,
of which that establishing the money-or-
der system is undergoing certain changes
suggested by the Postoffce Department.
| A treaty of extradition with that country,
signed on the same day, is before the
Senate.
A boundary dispute between Brazil and
A Ia