The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-09-27
GERMANY'S DEMAND.
Wants Authors of Atrocities Surrendered.
Our Governments PositiCn-Prince
Tuan in High Power.

| WIS tHc VI lhooc !" nv "SAS
the real and original instigators of the out
RACES against international law which have
occurred in China. The note recited that
1.-The numbers of those who were merely
instruments in carrying out the outrages
is too great. Wholesale executions would
be contrary to the civilized conscience, and
the circumstances of such a group of lead
ers cannot be completely ascertained. But
few of those whose guilt is notorious
should be delivered up and punished. The
Representatives of the powers at Bekln are
in position to give or bring forward con
vincing evidence. Less Importance at
taches to the number punished than to
their character as chief instigators and
leaders. So The Government pro-
poses, therefore, that the Cabinets con-
cerned should, instruct their representa-
tiyes at Pekin- to indicate those leading
Chinese personages from whose guilt IN
instigating OF perpetratins outrages all
doubt is excluded"
Count Won Buelow, Chancellor, is the
author of the note. One view taken of 1t
in Germany was that Germany had turned
the tables ON Russia, whose evacuation
PROPOSAL put Germany lii an awkward
corner, and that now, if Russia assented
to the German note she would be unable
to continue to pose as China'S lenlent and
forgiving friend, while, if she dissented,
Russia would lay herself liable to the
charge of reducing the punitive expedition
to a farce.
Our State Department had been all
along directing its efforts to the speedy
opening of negotiations for final settle
ment with the Chinese Government, and
so far had not been heard from relative to
the matter of punishments beyond the IN
direct references obtained in the notes that
have defined our Governments position
The question was now presented whether
or not the negotiations should be proceed
ed by decision on this point put forward
by Germany. 1t then TRANSFERRED that an
act of apparent trickery on the part OF
Lii Hung Chang, who with Sheng ana
Ching have been designated by the chi
nese Government as peace ENJOYS, caused
this radical move on Germany's part. Lii,
in a recent interview with the German
minister, DR.. Won Schwarzenstein, at
Shanghai, mentioned number of names
of alleged high mandarins, hitherto Who'll
" unknown, as those responsible LOT tne
outrages, and said that China was Will
ing to punish them. The German once
made a statement following the sehoihs
of the note, saying:
s.Wbat we want to avoid is an oppor-
tunity for allowing China to impose any
sham concessions upon the Powers by de-
liyering up for punishment persons VINO
had nothing to do with the Pekln atroc'
tiles. Hence, it is advisable for the repre-
ignate beforehand all who are VIGOROUSLY
guilty. Germany does not wish to pre- |
Judge the case in any way. She wishes TO
reach an agreement with the powers re- |
garding the guilty and their punishment.
Sato, First Secretary of the japanese
Legation at Berlin, said: Il think there
will be no difficulty in getting the Pow
ers to agree in principle to the German
proposition to punish the guilty. The real
difficulty will be in deciding how high to
go. If they decide to include Prince luan,
then they win find that the Empress he-
gent was back of him"
The President and his advisers, after
several conferences, ON Saturday decided
on the replies to make to Russia, and
China's request for immediate designation
of someone to unite into negotiations for
final settlement.
The answer to Germany was to the ef-
feet that it seemed only just to China that
she be afforded an opportunity to de-
grade and punish the responsible authors
by the supreme imperial authority itself. |
Therefore this Government declined to
Join in Germany's proposition, at the same
time holding that ''the punishment OF the
high responsible authors OF these wrongs,
not only in Pekin, but throughout CHINA,
is essentially a condition to be embraced
and provided for in the negotiations ior
final settlement"
L
potentiaries for negotiating settlement
with China was also announced.
The Chinese Government was advised
that our Government accepted III Hung
Chang and Prince Ching as prima facie
sufficient for the preliminary negotiations
looking toward the return of the Imperial
Chinese Government to Pekin, etc. Rus
sias inquiries on this and other points
were answered and she was advised, as
was China, that Minister Conger would
be authorized to enter into negotiations
with Chang and Ching.
1t is not definitely known, but believed
that Austria, Italy and France have
agreed, and Great Britain, Russia and
Japan have not replied, to Germany.
The latest is that it is now admitted by
Washington officials that the order of
withdrawal whether from Pekin or China
remains to be seem has been definitely de-
termined upon and will not be revoked I'M
less there should be some radical change
in the situation In a day or two. Minis
ter Conger is to remain in Pekin and Will
be designated as one Of the American
plenipotentiaries to negotiate with China
and the powers for satisfactory settle
ment of the recent troubles. MIR. Rockhiil,
the Presidents special envoy at present,
will probably be another of the American
ENJOYS.
Orders to heavily augment the Ameri-
nounced and intended as notice to the
world that our Government intends to
maintain its interest in the settlement Of
the Chinese question and proposes to as
sert its treaty rights in China. 1t is con
templated to keep about ], 400 men in Pc
kin as legation guard.
Ii Hung Chang has established himself
in Tien Tsin.
Russia is reported to have seized Man
churia so far as occupied, in punishment
for the recent Chinese invasion of her bor-
der, and that her troops are massacreins
Chinese peasants by wholesale. Notwith-
standing this, there is still suspicion Of
secret agreement between the Empress or
Tuan and Russia's Government.
| 1t Is row reported that Prince Tuan
and Prince Chuang, deputy Commander
in-Chief of the Boxers, have been appoint
ed by the Empress members Of the Grand
Council, Tuan being made President. This
report is received in some quarters as q
defiance of the Powers. The bold effort
of the Empress 10 restore to power these
officials accused by the allies of having
been leaders in the atrocities against the
foreigners has somewhat startled the Pow
ers. The matter is regarded as very Sc
rious, If true, and liable to stop negotia-
tons, but official notice has not yet been
received.
CIV,