The Holly chieftain., 1900-09-28
AMERICAS POSITION
ON CHINESE QUESTION

ON CHlN ESE QUE01lUN
Washington, Sept. %. The State
Department last night made public the
text of the notes addressed by 1t to
the governments of Germany, Russia
and China In answer to inquiries from,
them as to the attitude Of the United
States toward various phases Of the
Chinese situation. The forecasts of
these notes made In the press appear
to have been accurate, for, although
nowhere In the ext is reference made
to the withdrawal of Bnited States
troops from China, the ofhcial state
ment Issued by the Navy Department
in advance of the publication Of the
notes bears out the prediction that the
government finally has decided upon
such a material reduction OF its mill
tary force as will amount TO a with
drawal Of the army as an offensive In
strument. This statement from the
Navy Department, moreover, is full Of
Significance Of purpose on the part
of the government to see to it that II
there Is any subsequent attempt at ter
ritorial aggression on the part OF any
of the powers who already have de-
clared themselves as willing to abide
by the expressed determination Of the
United States to refrain from selxing
upon Chinese territory, then the United
| States Is to lose no right or privilege
which it now enjoys by such action.
The notes Themselves are brief, consid-
ering the Importance Of the topics
treated. The Russian and Chinese an
swers, being In the form Of diplomatic
memoranda, are short to degree rare
ly seen in diplomatic exchanges. But
in both cases, being completely respon-
sive and favorable to the inquirer, they
will escape criticism on that score.
The reply to Germany Is as follows:
Sir-In response to your inquiry of
the 10th instant as to the attitude Of
the government of the United States in
regard TO the exemplary punishment
of the notable leaders in the crimes
committed In Pekin against interna-
tlonal law, have the honor to make
the following statement:
The government of the United States
has from the outset proclaimed Its pur-
pose to hold to the utterlnost account
ability the responsible authors of any
wrongs done In China to citizens of
the United States and their interests,
as was stated in the governments COM
muDication to the powers of July 3
last. These wrongs have been COM
mitted not alone III Pekin, but in many
parts of the empire. and their punish
ment is believed to be m essential ele-
ment of any effective settlement which
shall prevent recurrence OF such out
RACES and bring about permanent safe
| ty and peace In China. 1t is thought.
however, that no punitive measures
can be so effective by way of repara-
ton for wrongs suffered and as de-
terrent examples for the future as the
degradation and punishment of the re-
| sporsible authors by the supreme inn
perial authority itself, and 1t seems
| only tust to China that she should be
afforded in the first instance an 0ppor-
tunity to do this and thus rehabilitate
herself before the world. Believing
thusly, and without abating In any
wise its deliberate purpose to exact
the fullest accountability from the re-
sponsible authors Of the wrongs we
have suffered in China, the government
of the United States Is not disposed,
as a preliminary condition to entering
into diplomatic negotiations with the
Chinese government, to join in a de-
mand that said government surrender
| 10 the powers such personages, accord
WIZ IL tHC luc pOHtEs
| themselves, may be held to the first
and real perpetrators of those wrongs.
On the other hand. this government is
disposed to hold that the punishment
| of the high responsible authors of these
wrongs, not only in Pekin, but through
out China, is essentially condition to
be embraced and provided for In the
negotiations for Anal settlement. 1t
.s the purpose Of this government, at
the earliest practicable moment, to
aame its plenipotentiaries for negotiat-
ing a,settlement with China, and in the
meantime to authorize its minister in
Pekin to enter forthwith its confer
ence with the duly authorized re-
| representatives. of the Chinese govern
rnent, with view to bringing about a
preliminary agreement whereby the
full exercise Of the imperial power for
the preservation of order and the pro
lection of foreign life and property
throughout China, pending final me-
gotiations with the powers, shall be
assured. t - E ar.a