The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-12
Commissioner ROckhill Submits
Report to Congress
Showing the Governments Part
in Chinese Negotiations.
STOOD BETWEEN THEM
Prevented Other CountriesFrom
Imposing Hard Lines.
Pushed the Chinese Into Ac.
ceptance of Terms offered.


| long expected report of Special
| Commissioner Rockhill to the secretary
| of state on the results of his work in
/ connection with the Chinese negotia-
| tons in Pekin has been submitted to
| congress, along with the full text of the
protocol. which has been already pub
1Shed, and d mass OF detailed state
ments. 1t was upon this report that the
president based his conlmendatory rel
! erence to Mr.. Rockhills work in his
recently published message to congress
Beginning by detailing the conditions
under which he came to be appointed IN
| July, 190o United States commissioner
| to China, Mr.. Rockhill tells of visits ne
made to the viceroys of Shanghai and
| WI Chang, which he said did not a III
| tie to further the interests of peace MI.
| Rockhiu says he fully concurred in all
| the measures that Minister Conger had
| been and was advocating These nego-
uatlonS extended over period OF FOUR
| teen months, and Mr.. Rockhill thus
| summarizes the results in addressing
Secretary Hay:
graphed on July 3, 1900, to our embas-
sizes in Europe and to our missions in
Vienna, Brussels, Madrid, Toxic, The
Hague, and Lisbon, defined the policy
States in the settlement of affairs in
China, and from which they never de-
parted. Bearing these instructions al
ways in mind, the task of the agents of
our government in Pekin was a COM
paratively easy one. Throughout the
negotiations our object was to use the
influence of our government in the in
tereSt of justice and moderation ana IN
a spirit of equal friendship to the powers
negotiating Jointly with US and the Chi
neSe nation.
THE twelve demands made by the
powers on China, the accomplishment
of which was deemed necessary for the
restoration Of normal relations with
that country, and which We're embodied
may be classified under four principal
heads:
L. Adequate punishment for the au-
thors of and those guilty of actual par
ticipat ton in the anti-fOreign maSSa-
ores and riots.
80. The adoption Of measures neces-
sary to prevent their recurrence.
80. The decentralization for losses sus-
tanned by states and foreigners through
these riots.
"a. The improvement of our relations
both official and commercial with the
Chinese government and with China
generally.
LAS regards the punishment of the
responsible authors and actual perpe-
traitors of the anti-foreign outrages, the
government of the United States while
insisting that all such should be held
to the utmost accOunta bil1ty, declined
to determine in any case the nature of
the punishment to be inflicted, and
maintained that the Chinese govern
ment itself should in all cases carry
them out.
LAS soon as the chief culprfts had
been punished considering the terrible
losses in life and property sustained by
China, not only through the boxers and
their adherents. but by the destruction
of Tien Tsin. Pel1in and the military
occupation of large portion of the
province of Chi Lii, the United States
threw the weight of it's influence on the
side of moderation and the prevention
of further bloodshed. To this it was
mainly due that the long lists of pro-
scription which had been prepared by
the representatives of the powers, of
Chinese in the provinces charged with
participation in the maSSacreS, or riots
were repeatedly revised before the
presentation to the Chinese govern
mnt. The demands for capital punish
ment were finally reduced from ten to
four, and many names, enormously, or
on insufficient evidence placed on the
lists were removed, or lighter forms of
punishment asked for numbers of those
left on them.
while seeking with the other powers
the best means to prevent the recur-
renee of such troubles and to guard in
the future American residents in Pekin
from such dangers as they had passed
through, the United States did not lend
it's support to any plan which contem-
plated either the prolonged occupation
by foreign troops Of any portions or
points In China, the erection of
International fort in the city of Pekin
from which to carry on friendly rela-
lions with the Chinese government Our
policy has always been in favor of a
strong, independent and responsible
Chinese government which can and will
be held accountable for the maintenance
of order and the protection of our citi-
zenS and their rights under the treaties
Throughout the negotiations we strictly
adhered to this just principle, with re-
suits which have proved beneficial to
all.
LAS regards the third point of the ne
gotfati tons. the equita BILE naturalization
n q a nd
expenses incurred by them in China and
in sending expeditionary forces to re-
neve the legations and foreign residents
at Pekin and restore order and also
the securing of indemnitieS to societies
companies and individuals for their pri-
vate losses through the anti-foreign
riots, the government of the United
States advocated that the sum total of
these indemnities should not exceed a
reasonable amount well within the pow
er of China to pay. After careful in
Quiry you reached the conclusion that
with her present resources and liabili-
ties, China could not pay as indemnities
to the powers more than 200 millions of
dollars and that the exaction of any
larger amount would not only entail
permanent financial embarrassment on
the country but might possibly result
in either international financial control
or even the loss of territory. The rep
resentative of the United States was in
structed accordingly and he was further
told that in the opinion of our govern
ment the amount should be asked Of
China by the powers Jointly without de-
tail. or explanation and afterwards di-
vided among them according to their
losses and disbursements You also sta
ted that every facility of payment
should be accorded China and that the
debt should be paid by bonds issued at
par and bearing per cent interest and
running for 80 or 40 years
Though it became necessary after
pFotra cted discussion in the conference