Mr. Hill to Mr. Conger.
Part 1. On September 17 the Chinese minister presented copy of circular telegram from Prince Ching announcing appointment as the plenipotentiary conjointly with Li Hung Chang to negotiate peace and requesting that United States minister at Pekin be instructed to open negotiations. The following reply has been made to-day to Chinese minister:
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 authority at Pekin and toward the negotiations of a complete settlement by the duly appointed plenipotentiaries of the powers and of China. 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 Government and Emperor.
Part 2. On September 17 the Russian chargé delivered a memorandum inquiring, first, whether the United States intends to transfer its legation from Pekin to Tientsin; second, if full powers of Prince Ching and Li Hung Chang are recognized by the United States as sufficient; third, if the United States is prepared to charge its representatives to enter forthwith upon preliminary negotiations with the plenipotentiary of the Chinese Emperor.
The following reply has been sent to the Russian chargé to-day:
- 1.
- The Government of the United States has not any present intentions 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 negotiations of 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.
Part 3. On September 18 the German chargé communicated by note the Imperial German circular proposition that as a prerequisite to any negotiations the Chinese Government shall deliver the real responsible authors of crimes against international law recently perpetrated in China.
To this the following note has been handed the German chargé today:
In response to your inquiry of the 18th instant as to the attitude of the Government of the United States as regards the exemplary punishment of the notable leaders [Page 342] in the crimes committed in Pekin against international law, I have the honor to make the following statement:
The Government of the United States has from the outset proclaimed its purpose to hold to the uttermost the responsible authors of any wrongs done in China to citizens of the United States and their interests, as was stated in the Government circular to the powers of July 3 last. These wrongs have been committed not alone in Pekin, but in many parts of the Empire, and their punishment is believed to be an essential element of any effective settlement which shall prevent a recurrence of such outrages and bring about permanent safety and peace in China. It is thought, however, that no punitive results can be so effective by way of reparation for wrongs suffered and as examples for the future as the degradation and punishment of the responsible authors by the supreme Imperial authority itself, and it seems only just to China that she should be afforded in the first instance the opportunity to do this, and thus rehabilitate herself before the world. Believing thus, and without abating in any wise its deliberate purpose to exact the fullest accountability from the responsible authors of the wrongs we have suffered in China, the Government of the United States is not disposed as a preliminary condition to entering into diplomatic negotiations with the Chinese Government to join in demand that said Government surrender to the powers such persons as to the determination of the powers themselves may be held to be first and perpetrators of these wrongs. On the other hand, this Government is disposed to hold that the punishment of the high responsible authors of these wrongs, not only in Pekin but throughout China, is essentially a condition to be embraced and provided for in the negotiations for a final settlement. It is proposed by this Government at the earliest practicable moment to name its plenipotentiaries for negotiating a settlement with China, and in the meantime to authorize its minister in Pekin to enter into conference with the representatives of the Chinese Government with a view to bring about a preliminary agreement whereby full exercise of the Imperial authority for the preservation of order and the protection of foreign life and property throughout north China pending final negotiations with the Chinese shall be assured.