Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-12-12
HONORABLE WORK.
Commissioner Rockhill Reports
on United States Efforts
in China.
MADE SETTLEMENT POSSIBLE
just Spirit Prevented For
eign Powers From Making Demands
Impossible to Grant-Have I'M
proved Our Diplomatic and
Business Relations.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE long expected
report of Special Commissioner Rockh. ii
to the secretary of state on results of his
work in connection with the Chinese nego-
tiations in Pckin has been submitted to
Congress- along with the full text of the
protocol which has been already publish
ed, and a mass of detailed statements. 1t
VAS upon this report that the President
based his commendatory reference 10 Mr.
Rockhils work in his recently publisi-
ed message to Congress.
Beginning by detailing the conditions
under which he came to be appointed in
january. 1900, United States Comn.isslone:
to China, Mr.. RoCkhill tells of visits he
made to the ViCeroyS of Shanghai and
Wuchang which he said he did not a lit
tie to further the interests of peace. Mr.
Rockhili says that he fully concurred in
all The measures that Minister Conger
had been and was advocating. These re-
gotiations extended over a period of four
teen months, and Mr.. RoCkhill thus sum
marizos the results in addressing ScCrc-
tary Hay:
The circular note which you telegraph
ed on July 3d, 1909. to our embassies in Eu-
rope, and to our missions in Vienna, Brus-
sells. Madrid, Toxic, The Hague, and Lis
bon, defined the policy already adopted by
the United states in the settlement of af-
iHirs in China and from which they never
dcpartcd fearing these instructions al
ways in mind, the TASK of the agents of
our government in Pckn was a Compara-
lively easy one. Throughout the negotia-
tions our object was to use the inhuenc
ot our government in the interest of jus
ticc and moderation and in spirit Of
equal friendship to tine powers nesotiati L
Jointly with us and the Ch.nese nation.
The twelve demands made by the pow
ers ON China. the accomplishment Of
which was deemed necessary for the res
toration of normal relations with that
country and which were embodied in the
joint note of December % 10 o. may be
classified under four principal heads: !
Adequate punishment for the authors of and
those guilty of actual participation in the
anti-Gorcign maSSaCreS and riots; .
the adoption of measures necessary to
prevent their recurrence; 2-the indemni-
ilcaton for losses sustained by States and
lorelGnerS through these riots, and 4, the
Improvement of our relations, both Ofll-
cial and commercial, with the Chinese
government and with China generally.
AS regards the punishment of the re-
sponsible authors and actual perpetrators
of the anti-loreign outragcs. the goVovn-
ment of the United States while insisting
that all such should be held to the utmost t
accountability, declined to determine in
every case the nature of the punishment
to be inflicted, and maintained that the
Chinese government itself should in all
cases carry them ont.
AS soon as the chief culprits had been
punished, considering the terrible losses
in life and property sustained by China,
not only through the Boxers and their
ddhorents, but by the destruction of ricn
Tsin. Peliin and military occupation of a
large portion of the Province of Chi ii,
the United States threw the weight of its
influence on the side of moderation and
the prevention of further bloodshed. To
inl1 Il I., liet
of prescription which had been prepared
by the representatives. of the powers, of
Chinese in the provinces charged with
iparticipatlOp in the maSSaCres or riots,
were repeatedly revised before prCsenta-
tion to the Chinese government. The de-
mands for capital punishment were final
lN reduced from ten to four ANA many
names enormously or on insufficient evi-
donce placed on the lists were removed
or lighter forms of punishment asked foI
numbers of those left on them
"Whilc seeking with the other powers
the best means to prevent the recurrence
of such troubles and to guard in the fu-
tUrC American residents in Prkin from
such dangers as they had passed through
the United States did not lend it's support
to any plan which contemplated either
the prolonged occupation by foreign troops
of amy portions or points in China or the
erection of any International fort in The
city of Pekin for which to carry on friend
lVrolations with TN" Chinese government
our policy has always been in favor of q
strong, independent and responsible Chi
nese government which can ana will b'
responsible for the maintenance of ordei
and the protection of our citizens ant
their rights under the treaties. Through
out the negotiations We strictly adhered
to this just principle. with results whicl
have proved beucnCial to all.
''AS rGEaTdS the third point of the nCgO
tiationS, the inevitable indcmniication o
the various states for the losses and eN
pcnScs incurred by them in China and II
sending cXpcditiOnaY forces to relieve tn
legations and foreign residents at PeNil
ana restore order and also the securing
of ndemnities to societies, companies ant
individuals for their private losses thr
the anti-fOreign riots the guards of tn
United States insisted that the sum total o
these indcmnities should not exceed a rea
Sonahlc amount we'll within the power o
China to pay. After careful inquiry, yo,
reached the conclusion that with her pr :
cnt resources and liabilities, China cOul,
not pay as indemnities to the powers mo.
than two hundred millions of dollars AM
that the cNaCtion of any larger amour
would not only entail permanent iinancil
embarrassment on the country, but nigh
possibly result in either international ii
uuucial control or even loss of territory
The representative of the Unitel State
was instructed accordingly. and he wa
further told that in the opinion of on
government the amount should be aske
of China by the powers jointly, witho
detail or explanation, and atterward di
Nidcd among them according to their losSe
and disbursements. You also stated ma
every facility of payment should be ac
corded China and that the debt should b
paid by bonds issued at par and bearn
. three per cent interest and running 70
thirty or forty years,
| Though it became necessary after pre-
traCted discussion in the conference,
, accept the proposition of the other pow 7
to demand of China the sum total of the
losses and disbursements, reaching III
, enormous sum of 1888, 000, 900 our insisteno
, in pressing for "A much lower sum ana IN
!, weight of the arguments adduced in fave
of such "A policy, resulted in closing tn
, indemnities at the above lump sum, Whe
they bade fair to go ON swelling mdei
? ntely This and the acceptance of YOU
suggestion that the indemnities be pal
in bonds issued at par and bearing To-
rate of interest Gour per cent was ilnall
agreed upOn) and running for forty Noat
resulted i'm saving vast sum to thln
. fastened the evacuation OF the countt
sa.,1 EA