The age-herald., 1900-09-23
Full Answer Made to Notes of
 the Powers.
GERMANY'S PROPOSAL REFUSED
Answers Couched in Diplomatic Lam guage, and Are Brief and to the
 Point Will Force the Other Nations to Act

Washington, September 22.-The State Department tonight made public the text of the notes addressed by 1t to the gov ernments of Germany, Russia and China in answer to inquiries from them as to the attitude of the United States toward various phases of the Chinese problem. The notes themselves are brief, consider ing the importance of the topics treated. The Russian and Chinese answers being in the form of diplomatic memoranda are short to degree rarely seen in diplomatic exchange. But in both cases, being com pletely responsive and favorable to the in- quiry, they will escape criticism on that score.
 The answer to the German note is care- fully phrased so as to soften the unquali- fled refusal of the United States govern ment to make the punishment of the Chi nese ring leaders condition precedent to negotiations. Also 1t is noted that in the expression of a purpose to insist upon the ultimate and proper punishment of these offenders the State Department goes far beyond the German declaration on the sub- ject.
 The announcement that the department intends immediately to begin through MT. Conger negotiations with China and Ii Hung Chang, although distinctly marking the fact that these are only. preliminary to final negotiations, will have the effect to force the other powers to an immediate determination of their policies in this mat ter. The text of the correspondence fol- lows:
 The German Proposal
 Proposal of the German government in regard to the delivery of the responsible authors of recent crimes committed in Pekin and the reply of the United States therefore: e' The Imperial German charge affairs to the Secretary of State (translation):
 Imperial German Embassy,
 washington, D. C., Sept. IS, 1900.
 MT. secretary: By direction of the Im- perial Chancellor, have the honor to com municate to your excellency the follow ing: "The government of His Majesty. the Emperor, considers, as a preliminary con dition for entering into diplomatic negotia- tions with the Chinese government a sur render of such persons as are determined upon as being the first and real perpetrat- ors of the crimes committed in Pekin against international law The number of perpetrators who served as tools is too great; a wholesale execution would be
 
 more, circumstances would not allow that even the group of leaders could be com pletely ascertained. But the few among them whose guilt Is notorious should be surrendered and punished The representa- tives of the powers in Pekin will be in A position to make or adduce in this investi- gation fully valid testimony. The number of those punished Is of less importance than their characters as principal instiga- tors and leaders. The government of Ills Majesty the Emperor. believes that it can depend in this matter upon the concur renee of all the cabinets, for indifference towards the idea of a just expiation would be equivalent to indifference towards a repetition of the crime.
 "The government of His Majesty, the Emperor, therefore proposes to the inter- ested cabinets that they require their rep resentatives in Pekin to designate the principal Chinese personages whose guilt in the investigation or execution of the crimes is beyond doubt.
 "A similar communication is forwarded to the other interested cabinets.
 Requesting of Your Excelency a reply as soon as possible, I embrace this occa- sion to tender the assurance of my most distinguished consideration.
 (Signed) "STERNBERG.''
 Reply to Germany
 Acting Secretary Hill ,to the Imperial German Charge d.Anaires:
 0cpdTlIIleut OI Sldlc,
 washington, D. C., Sept 2l. 1900. "Sir: In response to your inquiry of the 18th instant as to the attitude of the gov ernmept of the United States in regard to the summary punishment of the notable leaders in the crimeS committed in Pekn against international law, have the honor to make the following statement:
 "The government of the United States has from the outset proclaimed its purpose to hold to the uttermost accountability the responsible authors of any wrongs done in China to citizens of the United States and their interests, as was stated in the gov ernment's circular of July 31. These wrongs have been committed not alone in Pekin, but in many parts of the Empire, and their punishment is believed to be an essential element of any effective settlement which shall prevent a recurrance of such outrages and bring about permanent safety and peace in China It Is thought, however, that no punitive measures can be so ef- fective by way of reparation for wrongs suffered, and as deterrent examples for the future as the degradation and punish ment of the responsible authors by the su- preme imperial authority itself, and 1t seems only just to China that she should be afforded in the first instance an oppor- tunity to do this, and thus rehabilitate her self before the world. Believing thus and without abating in anywise its deliberate purpose to exact 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