The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-25
AMERICAS ATTITUDE.
COMPLETE ANSWERS MADE TO ALL
THE POWERS
HER INTENTIONS DISCLOSED
As to Her Future Course In the Chinese
Matter-Contents OF the Replies kept
Secret Germany's Proposal Is De-
10 Settle Matters With China-AIl
American Troops Except One Regi-
ment TO be Withdrawn From China

Washington, September a-The
United States government has made
full and complete answers to the va
rious important inquiries that have
been addressed to it by the powers rel
ative to the Chinese trouble. Il has
gone farther and has made a disclos-
ure OF all of its purposes and. as a
member of the administration puts IL.
it has thrown its hand open on the
table. This action was taken after the
cabinet meeting today n luncheon
at the White house that followed serv-
ed TO reduce the decision 10 the ulti-
mate form.
At $3.50 O'Clock Minister WI called
by appointment upon acting Secretary
Hill n was handed a memorandum
embodying the response of the United
States government t h request Of
Prince Ching that Mr.. Conger or some
other person be Immediately empower
ed to begin negotiations with h Chi
neSe authorities for a final settlement.
The minister came away with a dis
satisfied expression upon his face.
Next came M. Thiebaut, the French
charge. A few minutes conversation
sufficed to import to him orally, just
as he had made his own inquiry, the
answer to il.
Then Baron Sternberg. the German
charge, who had been notified OF the
readiness of the state department to
make answer to the German note, call
ed and was given that nSw He
fastened away to cable it to his gov
eminent.
The department then sent the an
swer to the Russian inquiry forward
by messenger, and direct cablegrams
containing the substance of the ans
wers to its diplomatic representatives
abroad.
Thus closed one of the most inter-
esting n important phases of the
Chinese ENHANCEMENT.
The state department absolutely re-
fused to make any statement as TO the
nature of the taking the
ground that to do 50 would be a vio-
lation of the diplomatic proprieties.
However, it was calculated that all of
these answers will have reached their
destinations abroad by tomorrow, n
it was promised that the text Of the
communications should be given to
h press tomorrow afternoon The
ministers and charges who received
the messages here adopted the same
Secretive attitude. The president him
self, it seems. had given instructions
that every effort should he made to
maintain secrecy in this matter until
the official disclosure.
With all this, it is known that the
German proposal that negotiations
with China be deferred until the Chi
neSe responsible for the Pekin out
RACES have been surrendered to the al
lies has failed of approval by our gov
| eminent. The d~eclination has been
nnnx-aJ-nI IN q ma N N nr tn \ &c nrn Wa
o~ffense, but it is believed that the
Unicted States government cannot rec
ogniZe the principle that a country
may be called Upon to surrender it's
W citizens TO a foreign power or
powers for punishment. The govern
ment does not relinquish the idea of
the ultimate punishment Of the often
ders when they are properly identified,
but it does not believe that the pur-
suit 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 nay either form part
of the joint international commission,
which it is hoped will be appointed
for the purpose, or, in the event of the
failure of the effort to secure point ac-
ton, then the members can go on and
deal directly WITH emma lot d SeIlie-
ment. The names of Minister Conger,
General James H. Wilson and Mr..
Rockhill are mentioned in this connec-
ton.
1t is believed that the outcome,
from a military point, of today's action
will be the withdrawal of all but one
regiment of the American troops from
China to Manila, where they can be
held ready to return in an emergency.
General Chaffee probably will remain
in China in command Of the force there
which will be regarded simply as a
legation guard.
One fact concerning the United
States answe that was learned off
cially is that they contain no new prop
osition; they simply clear away the
debris of unanswered inquiries.
Washington Messenger: Already sew