I have to request that you will inform me at your earliest convenience if
this reply is approved by you.
[Inclosure with dispatch No.
72.—Translation.]
Monsieur le Maréchal: I hastened to communicate
to my colleagues your letter of 6th of April, concerning the resolutions
taken by the commanders of the allied forces for carrying out Articles
VIII and IX of the Joint Note.
As regards the questions of a military nature treated of in your letter,
the representatives of the powers have adopted, subject to the approval
of their governments, the propositions which you have made known to
them.
Thus they have adopted the opinions expressed by the commanders of the
allied forces concerning the enumeration of fortifications to be razed,
the designation of points to be occupied between Peking and the sea, the
distribution of nationalities in the posts which are to be established,
and the total figure of the forces which shall occupy the different
posts. They have noted, however, that the distribution of the total of
the effective forces between the various nationalities has not been
indicated for Tientsin and Shanhaikwan.
As regards the questions which are at the same time of a military and
political nature, the representatives of the powers express the
following opinions:
Concerning the garrison of 4,000 men which is to remain, provisionally,
at Tientsin during the period which will follow the present occupation,
the commanders of the allied troops should indicate, by nationality, the
proportion of this garrison, so that this proportion can be submitted to
the various governments.
Concerning the Provisional Government of Tientsin, it should transmit its
powers to the native authorities as soon as the situation will permit of
so doing and without this measure having any reference to that of
military occupation.
Concerning the unity of the chief command, the majority of the ministers
have pronounced themselves in favor of the suggestion made by the
commanders of the allied troops. It is understood, nevertheless, that
the legation guards at Peking should be in the future and until ordered
to the contrary, outside of the troops placed under the supreme
commander.
Concerning the question of military evacuation, a proposition in the
following words has been submitted unanimously by the representatives of
the powers to [Page 141] their
governments: “A partial reduction of troops is already possible, but the
evacuation, properly so called, can only commence when the Chinese
Government has fulfilled the conditions of Articles II and X of the
Joint Note, and when it has accepted the general principles which shall
be indicated to it for the payment of the indemnity. That is to say, the
sum total and the mode of payment.”
Concerning the conditions of the transfer of the local administration to
the native authorities, the commanders of the allied troops should study
if, one month before the evacuation, the police and administration of
Peking can not be intrusted to the civil Chinese authorities, under the
superintendence of the foreign military troops. It is to be noted, in
this connection, that there has never been in the city of Peking a
military administration nor a permanent military garrison. The banner
troops can not be considered as such.
The other questions treated of in the letter of your excellency have been
examined and noted with all the care and attention which they deserve.
The representatives of the powers will not fail to give them such
consideration as may be necessary, and to inform, in proper time, the
commanders of the allied troops through your excellency.
