The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-09-24
(Acting Secretary Hill to the Impe-
rial German Charge d'Affaires).
Department of State,

| hiiteAi NtAN~'
Department of State,
Washington, Sept. Il, 1900.
| Sir: In response to your inquiry of the
Sth instant as to the attitude of the
government of the United States in re-
gard to the exemplary punishment OF
the notable leaders in the crimes COM
mitted In Pekin against international
law, I have the honor to make the fol-
| lowing statement:
The government of the United States
has from the outset proclaimed It's pur-
pose to hold to the uttermost accounta-
blity the responsible authors of any
wrongs done in China to citizens OF the
| United States and their interests, as
was stated In the governments circular
communication to the powers of July
| last. These wrongs have been commit
ted not alone in Pelin, but In many
parts of the empire, and their punish
ment is believed to be an essential ele-
ment of any effective settlement which
shall prevent a recurrence of such out
RACES and bring about permanent safe
ty and peace in China.
| 1t is thought, however, that no punt
| tive measures can be so effective by
| way of reparation for wrongs suffered
and as deterrent examples for the fu-
| ture as the degradation and punish
ment of the responsible authors by the
supreme imperial authority itself, and
| 1t seems only just to China that she
should be afforded In the first instance
an opportunity to do this and thus re-
habilitate herself before the world
| Believing thus, and without abating
40 ~ RI eyy-
act the fullest accountability from the
responsible authors of the wrongs we
have suffered in China the government
of the United States is not disposed, as
preliminary condition to entering into
diplomatic negotiations with the Chi
nese government, to join in demand
that said government surrender to the
powers such persons as according to
the determination of the powers them
selves, may be held to be 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 Pelsin, but through
out China, is essentially condition to
be embraced and provided for In the
negotiations for a final settlement. 1t
Is the purpose of this government at
the earliest practicable moment, to
name it's plenipotentiarles for negotiat-
ing settlement with China and in the
meantime to authorize it's minister in
Pekin to enter forthwith into confer
ence with the duly authorized repre-
sentatives Of the Chinese government, 4
with view of bringing about pre-
tp,jn mt uhprphU the fnl
exercise of the imperial power for the
preservation of order and the protec-
ton of foreign life and property
throughout China, pending final nego-
tiations with the powers shall be as
sured.
Accept, sir the renewed assurances
of my highest consideration.
DAVID j. HILL,
Acting Secretary.
Freiherr Speck Won Sternburg Wash
ington.
CHINESE CORRESPONDENCE SEP
TENDER 17-21, 1900. CONCERN
ING THE APPOINTMENT OF
PRINCE CHING AS PLENIPOTEN-
TIARY.
IIanded to Mr. Adee by the Chinese
Minister, Mr.. WI, September II, 1900,
1915 a. m.)
Cablegram from Prince Ching, dated
Cat Pekin) September s. 1900, transmit
ted by the Chinese minister at st. Pc
tersburg on the 18th instant to Minister
WI. who received it on the night Of the
same day:
Foreign troops having entered Pekin,
and their majestles, the empress dow
ager and the emperor, having gone
westward on a tour, | have received an
imperial edict appointing me envoy
plenipotentiary with full discretionary
powers, in conjunction with Grand Sec
rotary Ii Hung Chang, to negotiate
peace. Please inform secretary of state,
and request that, in view of the long
friendly relations existing between the
two countries) Instructions be tele-
graphed to the Omitted Statas) minis
ter at Pekin to open negotiations in a
harmonious way at an early date to the
interest and qualification of all con-
cerned."
H.
(Handed to the Chinese Minister by
the Acting Secretary of State, Septem-
Der 81, 1900, 345 p n.y.
Memorandum in response to Mr..
Wu's communication, September H.
1900, of a cabegram from Prince Ching
dated Pelkin, September s, 1900;
The government Of the United States
accepts the plenipotentiary authority
of Earl Ii Hung Chang and Prince
Ching as prima facie sufficient for the
preliminary negotiations looking to-
Uord tbe return of tha i'm parial Chinese
government, ard to the resumption of
it's authority at Pekin, and toward the
negotiations of a complete settlement
by the duly appointed nlenipotentiares !
of the powers and of China
To these ends, the United states min