The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-09-26
Text of the Answers
Given to the Powers.
Notes Were Brief But Clear
and to the Point.


Washington, Sept % The state de
partmeot tonight made public the tex.
OF the notes addressed by it to the gov.
ernmeots Of Germany. Russia aud
Ch'na 10 answer to inquiries from them
as to the attitude of the United States
towards various phases of the Chinese
problem The forecasts OF these notes
made 10 the press appear to have been
accurate, for although nowhere ic the
text is reference made to the With .
drawsl of the United States troops
from China. the official staten ont issud
by The navy department 10 ad.
vance OF the publication of the notes
bears ont the prediction that the gov.
ero~ent 6oally has decided upon suob
. material reduction OF its military
force as will amount to a withdrawal Of
toe army as 40 offensive instrument
Ih's statement from the navy dc
psrtment, moreover, is full of sieui
noanoe OF purpose 90 the part Of The
government to Gee to it that il there is
any subsequent attempt at territorial
aggression 90 the part of any of the
powers who already have declared
themselves IS wii,iog to abide BY the
expressed deter 10 alton of the United
States to refrain from sieziug upon
Chinese territory. then the Uoited
States is to lose 20 right or privilege
which it now enjoys by such action.
The notes themselves are brief, con
sideriog the importance Of the tropic,
treated. The Russian aud Chinese au
swers being in the form of diplomatic
memoranda. arc short to degree rare.
!y seen 10 diplomatic exchange. Bu.
10 both csses being complete re.
sponses and favorable to the inquirer,
they will escape criticism on that score.
The answer to the Germsn note is
carefully phrssed as to soften the
unqualified refusal of the United States
government to make the punishment of
the Chinese riogleaders q condition
precedent to negotiations. Also it is
noted that IN the expression of . pur.
pose to insist upon the ultimate aud
proper punishment Of these offenders,
the state department goes far beyond
ths German declaration ou the subject.
The announcement that the de part.
ment intends Immediately to begin,
through Mr. Conger. conferences With
Ching aod Ii Hung Chaog, although
distinctly making the fact that these
are only preliminary to 6ual ueeotia.
tioos. will have tho effsot to force the
other powers to ao iu IN ediate determin.
alton of their policies 10 this matter
The text OF the correspondence follows:
Chinese correspondence, Sept 1s
81, 1900
Proposal of the German govern.
ment in regard to the delivery of the
responsible authorities recent crimes
committed in Pekin and the reply of
the United States thereto:
Q)
Inc imperial German charge d'af
falres to the secretary of State.
(Translstion
Imperial German Embassy.
Washington, Sept 10. 1900
Mr. Secretary: By direction of the
imperial chancellor l have the honor
TO respectfully communicate to vour
excellency the following:
The government of his maiesty.
the emperor. considers ss q prelin,i.
nary condition for entering into diplo.
mstic negotiations with the Chinese
government surrender of such per
sons as determined upon 90 being the
first and real perpetrators of the
grimes committed in Pekin against
International law. The number of
perpetrators who served 40 tools is
too great; wholesale execution
would be sverse to the civilized con
science. Furthermore, circumstances
would not allow that even the group
of leaders could be completely ascer
tsined But the few among them
whose guilt is notorious should be
and punished. The re
presentatives of the powers in Pekin
will be in q position to make this
Investigation fully. The number
first of those punished is Of less i'm.
portance than their character az
intigators aud leaders
The government of bis majesty,
the emperor, believes that it can
depend in this matter upon the con.
Currence of all the cabinets. for il.