Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-10-18
IS ACCEPTED IN PART
State Departments Reply to
French Note.
THREE RESERVATIONS ARE MADE
Dismantling of Forts and Hold
ing Of Road to Pekin.


Washington, Oct. 13.-The reply Of
the state department. to the French
note, relative to the basis of Chinese
negotiations, was made public today.
1t reads as follows:
'The secretary of state to the French
charge d'Affairs. Sent to Mr.. THE.
baut, October IL, 1900. Memoran.
dunn:
"The government of the United
States agrees with that of France in
recognizing as the object to be obtain
ed from the government of China ap.
propriate reparation for the past and
substantial guarantees for the future.
"The president is glad to perceive in
the basis of negotiations put forward
in the memorandum of October the
spirit that has animated the declare;
tions heretofore made by al the poNN.
ers interested and would be pleased to
see the negotiations begun Immediately
upon the usual verification of creden.
tials.
at may be convenient to enumerate
the clauses of the memorandum and
to add some observations dictated by
the attitude of the United States in the
present circumstances:
"First-The punishment of the
guilty parties who may be designated
by the representatives of the powers at
Pekin. The Chinese government has
already indicated it's intention to pun
ish number of those responsible for
the recent disorders. The representa-.
tives OF the powers at Pekin may sug.
gest additions to that list when nego.
tiations are entered.
"Second-The continuance OF the in.
terdiction against the importation of
arms. 1t is not understood that this
Introduction is to be permanent and the
duration of it and the details OF its reg.
ulation seem a proper subject OF dis.
cussion by the negotiators.
"Third-Equitable indemnities for
the governments, corporations and pri.
vate individuals. This is an object
desired by all the powers. The Rus
sian government has suggested that in
case of protracted divergence of views
this matter might be commended to
the consideration of the international
court of arbitration Of The Hague. The
president thinks this suggestion worthy
the attention Of the powers.
"Fourth-The organization in Pekin
OF permanent guard for the legations.
The government Of the United States
is unable to make any permanent en-.
gagement of this nature without the
authorization OF the legislative branch.
hut in the present emergency we have
stationed in Pekin an adequate lega.
ton guard.
"Fifth-The dismantling of the forts
at Taku. The president reserves the
expression of his opinion as to this
measure pending the receipt Of further
information in regard to the situation
in China.
'Sixth-The military occupation Of
two or three points on the road from
Tien Ism to Pekin. The same obser.
walton which has been made in refer.
ence to No. 4 applies also to this propo.
sition. The president is unable to
COIlIIIllu tuo OuIUcu CtotOc W q fOA uio~
nent participation in such occupation,
but he thinks it desirable that the pow.
ers shall obtain from the Chinese gov.
eminent the assurance of their right to
guard their legation in Pekin and to
have the means of unrestricted access
to them whenever required.
"The president believes that the gov.
eminent OF France and the other pow.
ers will see in the reservations we have
here made no obstacle to the initiation
of negotiations on the lines suggested
and he hopes it will be found practica.
BILE to begin such negotiations at an
early date.
department OF State, Washington.
October IL, 1900."
The American answer to the French
note has given a satisfactory turn to
the Chinese negotiations and were IL
not for the reports of military activity
in China on the part of some Of the
powers the outlook would be excellent
for speedy opening OF the long de.
ferred peace negotiations. In commu.
nicating the memorandum to M. THE.
baut, Secretary Hay added his personal
congratulations on the course OF the
French government. which he looks
upon as the initiation OF a satisfactory
solution of the Chinese problem.