The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-04

negotiations for a settlement at the earliest
possible moment. As soon as the sacred
duty OF relieving our legation and Its de-
pendents was accomplished we withdrew
from active hostilities, leaving our lega-
ton under an adequate guard in Pekin as
a channel OF negotiation and settlement-a
course adopted by others Of the interested
Powers Overtures OF the empowered rep
resentatives of the Chinese Emperor have
been considerably entertained
The Russian proposition looking to the
restoration OF the imperial power in Pekin
has been accepted as In full consonance
with our own desires for We have held
and hold that effective reparation for
wrongs suffered and an enduring settle-
ment that will make their recurrence i'm
possible can best be brought about under
an authority which the Chinese nation
reverences and obeys. While so doing We
forego no jot of our undoubted right to
exact exemplary and deterrent punishment
Of the responsible authors and abettors Of
the criminal acts whereby we and other
nations have suffered grievous injury.
Punishment of the Culprits.
For the real culprits. the evil counselors
who have misled the imperial judgment and
diverted the sovereign authority to their
own guilty ends. full expiration becomes
l.retributive justice. Regarding this as the
initial condition of an acceptable settle
ment between China and the Powers.
said in my message Of October Is to the
Chinese Emperor:
trust that negotiations may begin so soon
as we and the other offended Governments shall
be effectively satisfied of Your Majcsty's ability
and power to treat with just sternncss the prin-
cipal offenders. who are doubly cu'pable. not
alone toward the foreigners, but toward Your
Majesty, under whose rule the purpose OF CHINA
to dwell in concord with the world had hith-
crto found expression in the welcome and pro-
lection assured to strangers.
Taking, rs a point of departure, the i'm
perial edict appointing Earl Lii Hung
Chang and Prince Ching plenipotentiaries
to arrange settlement, and the edict Of
September 25, whereby certain high off,
Gals were designated for punishment, 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 negotiations formu-
lated by the Government of the French
Republic have been accepted with certain
reservations as to details, made necessary
by our own circumstances, but, like SINH
lar reservations by other Powers, open to
| discussion in the progress Of the negotia-
lions. The disposition OF the Emperor's
Government to admit liability for wrongs
done to foreign Government and their ma
tionals, and to act Upon such additional
designation of the .gailty persons as the
foreign Ministers at Pekin may be in
position to make, gives hope Of complete
settlement of all questions involved, as
surfing foreign rights Of residence and
intercourse on terms OF equality Tor all
the world.
/ 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 for
eign worship and teaching than would be
the direct invasion thereof.
The Question Of Indemnity.
The matter of indemnity for our wrong
ed citizens is question Of grave concern.
Measured in money alone, 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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT through the
dismemberment of the Empire. l am dis
be made in part by increased guarantees
of security for foreign rights and immuni-
ties, and most important Of all, by the
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 indemnties the matter may be rele-
gated to the Court of Arbitration at The
Hague. 1 favorably incline to this, be-
| lieving 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.
Treaty With the Argentine Republic.
Ratifcations of treaty of extradition
with the Argentine Republic were ex-
changed on June 2 last.
While the Hungarian Govern
ment has in the many cases that have
been reported of the arrest of our nat
uraliZed citizens for alleged evasion OF
military service faithfully observed the
provisions of the treaty and released sucn
| persons from military obligations, 1t has
| in some instances expelled those whose
presence in the community of their orr
gin was asserted TO have pernicious In
| fiuence. Representations have been made
| against this course whenever its adoption
| has appeared unduly onerous.
| We have been urgently solicited by Bel
| GUM to ratify the International Conven-
ton of June, 1899, amencatory OF the pre-
yious convention OF 1890 in respect to the
regulation of the liquor trade in Africa
Compliance was necessarily withheld. In
| the absence of the advice and consent OF
! the Senate thereto. The principle involved
| has the cordial sympathy of this Govern
mcnt. which in the revisionary neEotia-
lions advocated more drastic measures
| and / would gladly see its extension, by
| international agreement, TO the restric
| ton of the liquor traffic with all unciV-
| ilized peoples, especially in the western
Pacific.
| A conference will be held at Brussels
| December II, 1900 under the convention
for the protection of Industrial property.
| concluded at Paris March 20. 1883, to
which delegates from this country have
| been appointed. Any lessening OF the dll-
| ficuities that our inventors encounter IN
| obtaining patents abroad for their inVen-
| lions, and that our farmers, manufactur-
ers and merchants may have in the pro-
| lection of their trademarks is worthy oil
| careful consideration, and your attention
| will be called to the results OF the con-
ference at the proper time.
rrndc interests in South America.
In the interest Of expanding trade be-
tween this country and South America,
I 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 OH April "a. OF
which that establishing the money order
system is undergoing certain changes sug-