The sun., 1901-12-12

sioner to China, Mr. Rockhill tells OF
visits he made TO the yiccroys Of
Shanghai and Wuchang, which lie said
did not little to further the interests
of peace. MIR. Rockhill says that he
fully concurrcd in all the measures
that Minister Conger had been and
was advocating
Lasted Over Fourteen Months.
These negotiations extended over a
period of fourteen months, and Mr..
Rockhill thus summarizes the results
in addressing Secretary Hay:
The circular note which YOU telogapheh on
July 8, 1900, to our embassies in Europe and ~
missions In Vienna. Brussels, Madrid. Tokyo,
The Hague and Lisbon de6urd the policy alrrhdy
then adopted by the United States III the settc
nent of affairs in China and from which they neg.
er departed. Bearing these instructions always it
mind, the task Of the agents Of our government
in Pekng was a comparatively easy one. Ihrough
out the negotiations object was To use the in
huence Of government IN the interest OF JUS
tice and moderation and in spirit Of equal
friendship to the powers negotiating jointly with
US and the Chinese 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 were embodied in the
joint note of Dec. %, 1900, may be classified un.
der four principal heads Q) Adequate punishment
for the authors Of and those guilty Of actual par
ticpaton in the antiforeign massacres and riots,
(2) the adoption Of measures necessary TO prevent
their recurrence (3) the indemnifCation for losses
sustained by states and foreigners through these
riots and (4) the improvement of our relations
both official and commercial with tile CHINESE
government and with China generally
A., IS f4YEtIA IL
authors and actual perpetrators Of the antiforcigi
outragos the government OF the United State
while insisting that all such should be held t'
the utmost accountability, declined to determine
IN every the nature Of the punishment Ia h'
inflicted and maintained that the Chinese govern
mcnt itself should in all cases carry them out.
Advocated Moderation.
As soon as she chief culprits had leen punished
considering the terrible losses IN life and propert
sustained by China not only through the Boxer
and their adhcrcnts, but hy the destruction Q
1ientsin, Pcking and the military occupation OF
large portion OF the province of Chilli, the Emit
ed States threw the weight OF its influence o
the side Of moderation and the prevention ot fut
thcr bloodshed 10 this it was mainly due TIA
the long lists of prescription which had been PR
pared by the representatives a the powers, {
Chinese In the provinces charged with partiGipa
ton in the massaCrcs or riots, were repeated
revised before prescntati0n'to TO the Chinese goverr
nent. The demands for capital punishment We,
finally reduced from ten to four and man
namts enormously OF ON insufficient cNidtmt
placed ON the lists, removed o. lighter form
Of punishment asked for numbers Of those left .
them.
While seeking with the other powers the be
means to prevent the recurrence of such tronh
and to guard in the future American residents
Peking from such dangers as they had pass
through, the United States did not lend its su
port to any plan which contemplated either u
prolonged occupation by foreign troops Of AZ
portions or pants in China or the erection OF {
international fort in the city of Frking fro
which to carry on friendly relations with u
Chinese government our policy has always hc
in favor of strong, independent and rcsp0nsl
Chinese government which can and will be he
accountable for the maintenance OF order and
protection OF our citizens and their rights und
the treaties. Throughout the negotiations
strictly adhered to this just principle, with resu
which have proved beneficial to all.
The Indemnity Question.
As regards the third point Of the negotiation
the equitable indemnfcation OF the various stat
for the losses and expenses incurred by them
China and in sending cxpcditonary forces to
leve the legations and foreign residents al
king and restore order and also the securing
indemnites to societies. companies and indridu
for their private losses through the antiorei
riots, the government Of the United States ad
Gated that the sum total of these indemnit
should not exceed reasonable amount well wi
in the power of China to pay.
After careful inquiry you reached the conc
sion that with her present resources and lab
ties China could not pay as indcmniics 70
powers more than 5000, ,0OO and that the eS
tion Of any larger amount would not only en-
permanent financial embarrassment on the GO
Try, but might possibly result in either intci
tional financial control even loss of terrific
The representative Of the United States was
structed accordingly, and he was further told I
in the opinion Of our government the amn
should be asked OF China by the powers join
without detail or explanation, and afterward di
ed among them according to their losses and
bursements You also stated that every faci
VI payment should he accorded China and
the debt should be paid by bonds issued at
and bearing per cent interest and running
thirty or forty years.
Though 1t became necessary after protrat
discussion in the conference to accept the pr'
htion of the other powers to demand OF VI
the sum total of their losses and disburseme
reaching the enormous sum Of 1898 000, 900,
insistence in pressing for much lower sum
the weight of the arguments adduced in favo
such policy resulted in closing the indemn
at the above lump sum, when they bid fair t
on swelling indefinitely. This and the accepts
oi your suggestion that the indemnities be
IN bonds issued at par and bearing low rat
interest a per cent was finally agreed upon)
running for forty years resulted in saving a
sum to China, fastened the evacuation Of
country by the expeditionary forces and the r.
ration of order and Of normal relations with
ohnese government
imposed Customs Tariff Increas
az eonnsctioR with ths sussfiAn If ths