Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1900

Memorandum.

Department of State,
Washington, September 21, 1900.

(1) The Government of the United States has not any present intention to withdraw its legation from Pekin.

(2) The Government of the United States accepts the plenipotentiary authority of Earl Li Hung Chang and Prince Ching as prima facie sufficient for the preliminary negotiations looking toward the return of the Imperial Chinese Government and to the resumption of its authority at Pekin, and toward the negotiation of a complete settlement by the duly appointed plenipotentiaries of the powers and of China.

(3) To these ends the United States minister in Pekin will be authorized to enter into relations with Earl Li and Prince Ching as the immediate representatives of the Chinese Emperor.