The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-12-04

Washington, Dec @The presidents
message was received by both houses
of congress today,
After congIatulating the country
on it's continued prosperity and sub
stant1al growth and it's peaceful rela-
tions with all nations, except so far
those with China are concerned, the
president begins his message with
complete history of the position we
occupy in that empire and the causes
that led up to the present state of
affairs there. He relates all the var
ious demonstra tions of hostility
against foreigners in China culminat
ing with the attempts on the lives Of
the foreign ministers at Pekin and
their relief by the combined allies.
Attention is called to efforts made by
this government in the direction of
maintaining the integrity of che Chi
nese mpire and ending the anomalous
situation that now exists there by
negotiations for settlement at the
earliest possible moment. After refer
ring to the Russian proposition look
ing to a restoration of the imperial
government in Pekin and it's acceptance
by this government, the message says
the administration has held for effect
i've reparation of the wrongs we have
suffered and an enduring settlement
chat will make their recurrence i'm
possible, which can best be brought
about under an authority which the
Chinese nation reverences and Obeys.
awhile doing so,' the message con-
doubted right to exact exemplary and
deterrent punishment of the RESPONSE
BILE authors and abettors of the Grim
inal acts whereby we-and other ma
tions have suffered grievous injury"
Reference is then made to the presi
DENTS message to the Chinese emperor
under date OF October IS. The presi-
dent says that he regards as one of the
essential factors Of durable adjust
ment the securement of adequate guar
antees for liberty of faith, since in Sc
curity of those natives who may en-
brace alien creeds is scarcely less as
sault upon the rights of foreign wor-
ship and teaching than would be the
direct invasion thereof. The matter
of indemnity for our wronged citizens
is next touched upon. which, the
president says, is Of grave concern.
Measured in money alone, he contiues,
a sufficient reparation may prove be-
yond the ability Of China to meet.
All the powers concurring in emphatic
disclaimers of any purpose of aggran-
dizement through the dismemberment
of the empire, the president is dis
posed to think that due compensation
may be made in part by increased
guarantees of security of foreign right
and immunities, and most important
of all, by the opening of China to the
equal commerce of the world "These
views have been and will be earnestly
advocated by our representatives, f" he
says. Next reference is made to the
Russian proposition of arbitration in
the event of protracted divergence of
views in regard to indemnities. To
this the president says he is inclined
to give favorable consideration, be-
lieving that the high court at The
Hague could not fail to reach a solu-
tion no less conducive to the stability
and enlarged prosperity of China itself
than immediate beneficial to the pow
ers.
Reference is next made to various
treaties with foreign governments and
the enlargement of postal facilities
with the republics of South America.
The bearing the boundary dispute be-
tween Brazil and Bolivia upon the
commerce of the United States is set
forth and also the efforts made to
ameliorate the evil. The good results
accruing to the manufacturing inter-
ests of the country from the nations
display at the Paris exposition are also
made subject of the message. The
boundary dispute with Canada is
dwelt upon extensively. The modus
invendi is described as makeshifr
(which should not be suffered to delay
the speedy and complete establishment
Of the frontier we arc entitled to
under the Russo American treaty for
the cession of Alaska In this rela-
tion the president refers to the need of