[Inclosure—Translation.]
Berlin
,
September 25,
1900
.
Memorial in reply to the
memorandum of the chargé d’affaires of the United States of
America, dated 22d instant.
To Part I: Under date of the 8th instant the foreign office
addressed the following note to the Imperial Chinese legation at
Berlin:
“In note of the 4th instant the Imperial Chinese legation sent a
communication to the foreign office, which in brief contains the
following:
“‘That the Imperial Chinese legation had received from the
Imperial Chinese legation in London a telegram from the viceroy,
Li Hung Chang, stating that the latter had received from
Provincial Treasurer Pin at Paoting-Fu a telegram concerning a
written communication from the members of the council-of-state,
and that in said communication mention was made of an edict of
the Emperor of China expressing the hope (expectation) that Li
Hung Chang would without delay begin and conclude peace
negotiations with the powers.’
“The foreign office has to reply to the above, as follows:
“‘The Imperial Government can negotiate only with the supreme
power in China. Hitherto the Imperial Government has only been
aware of the supreme power in China being vested in the Emperor,
Tsai-tien, and the Empress Dowager temporarily [Page 337] appointed to represent him as
regent. Where and in whom the legally constituted authority of
governing the Chinese Empire is vested at the present time is a
matter which first of all must be satisfactorily demonstrated to
the Imperial Government. Acting on the presumption that the
Emperor and Empress Dowager still wield the supreme power, His
Majesty’s Government can negotiate only with such Chinese,
commissioners as are in possession of satisfactory written
authority conferred by the Emperor and Empress Dowager. Proof of
such authority is not furnished either by the note of the
Imperial Chinese legation or by earlier communications from said
legation. At the proper time the Chinese commissioners will have
to submit their credentials in China to Mr. Mumm von
Schwarzenstein, ambassador of His Majesty the Emperor, and it
will be his duty to test the same and then await the decision of
the Imperial Government whether those who present themselves as
commissioners shall, from their credentials as well as from
their personality, be recognized as empowered representatives.
The Imperial ambassador and the Imperial Government will herein
consult the other allied powers.
“‘Meanwhile the Imperial Chinese Government is earnestly and
emphatically counseled, in its own interest, to do all that is
possible, without delay and without awaiting the outcome of
negotiations, to smooth the way to pacification and order, and
more particularly to devote its energies to causing a cessation
of hostile acts on the part of China.’”
Replying to later communications from the Chinese legation at
Berlin touching the question of recognition of Prince Tsching
and of Governor-General Li Hung Chang as plenipotentiaries of
the Chinese Government, the foreign office has always made
reference to the above-mentioned note.
To Part II: Of three Russian inquiries, the first was answered by
the Imperial Government to the effect that the Imperial
Government continued to adhere to its previous declaration, viz,
to remove its embassy from Pekin at whatever time and in
whatever proportion this was done by the other powers.
In answer to the second and third inquiries of Russia, the German
circular quoted in Part III was referred to, in which the
Imperial Government declared its participation in negotiations
with those empowered by the Chinese Government a impracticable
(even if proper credentials were presented) until the
preliminary question of punishment of the Chinese criminals had
been settled.
