The Portland daily press., 1900-12-04

Faithful 10 those professions which. rs
Il proved. reflected the views and pur.
poses OF the other cooperating govern
ments, all our efforts have been directed
toward ending the anomalous situation In
China by negotiations for settlement al
the earliest possible moment. As soon
as the sacred duty OF relieving our lega-
ton and its dependents was accomplished
we withdrew from active hostilities, leav.
ing our Legation under an ADEQUATE
guard in Peking as a channel Of negotia-
tions and settlements course adopted
by others Of the interested powers. Over.
lures Of the empowered representatives
Of the Chinese Emperor have been con.
siderably entertained.
The Russian proposition looking to the
restoration of the Imperial power in Pc
king has been accepted as in full conso-
nance with our own desires, for we have
held and hold that effective PREPARATION
for wrongs suffered and an enduring set
Element that will make their recurrence
impossible can best be brought about un-
der an authority which the Chinese ma
ton reverences and obeys. While so do
ing we forego no jot of our undoubted
right TO exact exemplary and deterrent
punishment of the responsible authors
and abettors of the criminal acts where
by we and other nations have suffered
grievous injury.
For the real culprits, the evil counselors
who have misled the Imperial judgment
and diverted the sovereign authority to
their own guilty ends, full expiation be-
comes imperative within the rational linn
its Of retributlye justice. Regarding this
H. ~ l.,
settlement between China and the powers,
said In my message OF October 18th to
the Chinese Emperor:
81 trust that negotiations may begin so
soon as we and the other offended govern
ments shall be effectively satisfied of
Your Majesty's ability and power to treat
with Just sternness the principal Offend
ers, who are doubly culpable. not alone
toward the foreigners, but toward Your
Majesty, under whose rule the purpose of
China to dwell in concord with the world
had hitherto found expression in the wei
come and protection assured to strau-
gers"
Taking, as a point Of departure, the
Imperial edict appointing Earl Ii Hung
Chang and Prince Ching plenipotentiaries
TO arrange settlement, and the edict of
September 25th, whereby certain high Of
ficials were designated for punishment,
this Government has moved, in concert
with the other powers, toward the open
ing of negotiations, which Mr.. Conger,
assisted by Mr.. Rockhill, has been au-
thorized to conduct on behalf of the Unit
ed States.
General bases of negotiation formulat-
ed by the Government of the French Re-
public have been accepted with certain
reservations as to details, made neces-
sary by our own circumstances, but, like
similar reservations by other powers,
open to discussion in the progress Of the
negotiations. The disposition of the EN-
peror's Government TO admit liability for
wrongs done TO foreign governments and
their nationals, and TO act upon such ad-
ditional designation OF the guilty persons
as the foreign ministers at Picking may
be in n position to make, gives hope of a
complete settlement of all questions in
volved. assuring foreign rights of resi-
dence and intercourse on terms of equal
ity for all the world.
l regard as one of the essential factors
OF a durable adjustment the securement
OF adequate guarantees for liberty of
faith, since Insecurity of those natives
who may embrace alien creeds is a
scarcely less effectual assault upon the
rights of foreign worship and teaching
than would be the direct invasion thereof.
The matter of indemnity for our
wronged citizens is question of grave
concern. Measured In money alone, a
sufficient reparation may prove to be be-
yond the ability of China to meet. All
the powers concur in emphatic disclaim-
ers of any purpose of ACKNOWLEDGMENT
through the dismemberment of the EN-
pire. / am disposed to think that due
compensation may be made in part by
increased guarantees of security for for
eign rights and immunities. and, most
important of all, by the opening of Chi
ma TO the equal commerce OF all the
world. These views have been and will
be earnestly advocated by our represent
atives.
The Government of Russia has put for
ward a suggestion, that in the event Of
protracted divergence of views in re-
gard to indemnities the matter may be
relegated TO the Court of Arbitration at
The Hague. l fayorably incline to this,
believing that high tribunal could not fail
to reach solution no less conducive to
the stability and enlarged prosperity of
China itself than Immediately beneficial
to the powers.
Notifications of treaty of extradition
with the Argentine Republic were ex
changed on June I'd last.
While the Austro- Hungarian Govern
ment has in the many cases that have
been reported of the arrest of our natu-
rallied citizens for alleged evasion OF
military service faithfully observed the
provisions of the treaty and released
such persons from military obligations, il
has In some instances expelled those
whose presence in the community of their
origin was asserted to have a pernicious
influence. Representations have been
made against this course whenever its
adoption has appeared unduly onerous.
We have been urgently solicited by Bel
GUM TO ratify the International Conven-
ton of June, 1890, amendatory of the pre-
vious Convention of 1890 in respect to
the regulation of the liquor trade in At
RIGA. Compliance was necessarily with
held In the absence Of the advice and
consent of the Senate thereto. The prin-
ciple involved has the cordial sympathy
Ali. Gnvarnmant which In he rorf