The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-10-10
chinese POLICY DEFINED
Our Answe. to the Notes Of China,
Germany and Russia
MORE WARSHIPS FOR FAR EAST.
They Are to Compensate For the Reduce
tIon Of the Land Forces-Earl Ill ana
Prince Ching Are Recognized For Pre-
liminary Negotiations For Peace Only
car,n,pv,s Proposition Declined.


Prince Ching Are Recognized For Pre-
liminary Negotiations For Peace Only
-Germany's Proposition Declined.
Washington, D. @. (speciap. The
State Department has made public the
texts of the notes addressed by 1t
to the Governments of Germany. Rus
sia and China. The United States
have given unmistakable notification
to the Powers of their purpose to be
prepared to protect bJ force American
interests in China.
simultaneously with the publication
of the correspondence describing the
independent attitude adopted by the
United States. Secretary Long banded
to the press this statement:
SIN view of the possibility that later,
when circumstances so warrant. the
land force5 in China will be materially
REDUCED, the naval force in Asiatic
waters will be from time to time In
crea;ec with reference to American IN
terests in China and also the Philip
pines The following orders have
been therefore issued:
"The Dorothea, at League Island,
and the Annapolis, at Norfolk, have
been ordered to fit out for the Asiatic
station.
"The Wilmington has been ordered
to the Asiatic station via the Medlter-
ranean, and will be replaced on the
South Atlantic station by the Atlanta.
"The Albany, ut Piraeus, has been
ordered to Manila.
"The Kentuky and Vicksburg have
been ordered to the New York yard to
fit out for the Asiatic station
The correspondence shows several
new features indicating a firm policy
In the steps toward peace. Germany
proposed that such persons as are de-
termined upon as being the first ana
real perpetrators Of the crimes com
mitted in Pekin should be surrendered
to the Powers for punishment. Presl-
dent Mckinley calls attention to the
fact that these wrongs have been COM
,mitted not alone in Pekin, but in many
parts of the Empire, and says that
"this Government is disposed to hold
that the punishment of the high re.
sponsible authors Of these wrongs. not
only in Pekin, but throughout China,
Is essentially a condition to be en-
braced and provided for in the nego'
tiations for q final settlement"
There is an absence Of any reference
In the correspondence to the proposed
withdrawal Of troops from China. Rus
sia is told that this Government has
no present intention of withdrawing
Its legation froRl Pekin. 1t is learned
that General Chaffee has already been
informed that the troops to remain
in China during the winter, pending
q settlement, will consist of one regl-
ment of infantry, one squadron Of cav
airy and O battery of artillery, MAX
ing in all 1900 men, Which will act as
a legation guard. The remainder OF
the land forces is to be Withdrawn
very soon, the retirement Of the troops
from. Pekin to be gradual. To COM
pensate for the reduction IN the land
forces the President has directed that
the naval force be increased, so that
American interests in China will be
fully protected.
One of the new features of the dip
lomatic correspondence is the attitude
taken by this Government with refer.
ence to Prince Ching and Ii Hung
Chang. The replies to China and Rus
sia are almost identical. Both coun-
tries are informed that this Govern.
ment accepts the authority Sof Earl
Ii and Prince Ching as sufficient for
the preliminary negotiations looking
toward the return Of the Imperial
Court and to the resumption of its
authority at Pekin and toward the
negotiation of a complete settlement
by the duly appointed plenipotentiaries
Of the Powers and Of China, This
recognizes their authority to so ahead
with the preliminaries,and Is explained
to mean that the question of their
powers to effect settlement will be
determined later Minister Conger,
however, is told to enter into relations
with both ENJOYS.
e. In the reply to Germany's proposal
the President calls attention to the
fact that the most effective punishment
Of the responsible authors Of the out
RACES will be to have their punishment
inflicted by the Chinese Imperial Gov
ernment instead of by the Powers.
He then says: 1T seems only jhst
to. China that she be afforded in the
first instance an opportunity to do this
and thus rehabilitate herself before