Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-09-24
REPLY TO GERMANY.

nun Der oil contests nave Detu dIIauRcN'
REPLY TO GERMANY.
The State Department has made pub
lie the text OF the notes addressed by it
To the governments of Germany, Russia
and China in answer to inquiries from
them as to the attitude of the Uoited
States towards various phases OF the
Chinese problem. The forecasts OF these
notes made in the press appear TO have
been accurate, for, although no refer
ence is made to the withdrawal OF
United States troops from China. tbe
statement Issued by the Navy Depart
ment bears out the prediction that the
government has decided upon such
material reduction of its military force
as will amount to a withdrawal.
The announcement that the depart
ment intendi Immediately to begin
through Mr.. Conger conferences with
Ching and Ii Hung Chang, although
distinctly marking the TACT that these
are only preliminary TO final negotia
tions, will have the effect to force the
other powers to an immediate deter
minaton Of their policies in this matter.
The German proposal Of September Is
in regard to the delivery of the respon.
sibe authors OF the recent crimes IN
Pekin, says that the government OF
the Emperor considers IS a prelimi-
merry condition for entering into
l;oIoooa,;o consultations NTH the
Chinese government a surrender OF
such persons as are determined
upon as being the first and real perpe.
traitors OF the crimes. The number OF
perpetrators who served as tools is too
great; Wholesale execution would be
sverse to the civilized conscience. But
the few among them whose guilt Is no.
torious should be surrendered and pun
ished.
The German government urges that
indifference toward the idea Of ust
expiration would be equivalent TO indif-
ference towards a repetition OF the
crime.
In declining to concur in this policy
the reyly OF the United States says that
while it is its purpose to hold to the ut
termost accountability the responsible
authors Of any wrongs done 10 China to
citizens OF the United States and their
interests, sit is thought, however, that
no punitive measures can be so effect
i've by way of reparation for wrongs
suffered and as deterrent examples for
the future as the degradation and pun.
ishment of the responsible authors by
the supreme imperial authority itself,
and il seems only just to China that
she should he afforded in the FIRST 10.
stance an opportunity to do this and
thus rehabllitste herself before the
world"
1t is further stated that sit is the pur.
pose of this government at the earliest
moment, TO name its pleni-
for negotiating a settle
ment with China, and, in the meantime,
to authorize its minister 10 Pekin TO
enter forthwith into conference with
the duly authorized representatives OF
the Chinese government, with view
to bringing about preliminary agree
ment whereby the full exercise OF the
Imperial power for the preservation OF
order and the protection OF foreign life |
aud property throughout China, pend
ng fiOal negotiations with the powers,
shall be assured"
Tina Chinese note is simply cable
gram from Prince Ching, dated at Pc
Kin on Sept. s, and received at the
State department on Sept. II, an
that he and Earl Iii Hung |
Chang have been appointed to negoti-
.te peace, and requesting that minister
longer be allowed to open negotiations.
The reply OF the United States
tates that "the government of the
United States accepts the plenipotenti-
.ry authority of Earl Ii Hung Chang
md Prince Ching as prima face suffi-
lent for-the preliminary negotiations
o oking toward the return OF the impe
ial Chinese government and to the re-
umption OF it's authority at Pekin and
owsrd the negotiation OF complete
ettlement by the duly appointed pleni
otentisries OF the powers and OF China.
% these ends the United States minis
err 10 Pekio will be authorized to en-
err into relations with Earl Lii and
'rince CHING as the immediate repre-
entatives OF the Chinese emperor"
The Russian memorandum OF Sep
smber II is as follows:
l Has the federal government the
ltention to transfer the residence OF
be legation from Pekin to Tientsin2
his step mas been recognized as practi-
al and appropriate to the end, even by ,,
Re powers which fod 1t necessary to
ave troops at PekD.
2 Are the full powers OF Prince ,,
ming and Lii Hung Chang recognized :
J sufficient by the federal government? =.
8 Is the federal government pre- ;
AIRED to charge its representatives to
lter without delay upon the prelimi-
sry negotiations with the plenipoten-
aries OF the emperor of Chiuaf
To the first question the Uoited :,
ates answers: The government OF =
10 United States has not any present
tention 70 withdraw its legation =
om Pekip.' !,
To the second and third questions :
10 answer given is the same as that :
ven to Prince Ching. =
The bsttleship Kentucky, which has q
,an ordared IN tho China atat;ou ar,