Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay.
[Telegram.—Paraphrase.]
Peking, November 6,
1900.
(Mr. Conger reports that the ministers have all agreed that provisions for suitable reparation for the murder of Baron von Ketteler should be made in the general treaty. The following is agreed to by all except Russian and French ministers:
- First. The Chinese Government should undertake to negotiate hereafter, on lines which it may seem convenient for the foreign powers to propose, for the requisite amendment of commercial treaties and other subjects relating to commerce and navigation.
- Second. The Chinese Government shall undertake such financial measures to guarantee the payment of an indemnity and the interest on Government loans as may be indicated by the foreign powers.
- Third. As a further guaranty against future troubles an Imperial edict shall be issued and published everywhere in the Empire, making [Page 348] all vieeroyal, provincial, and local officials responsible for order in their respective jurisdictions; and whenever antif oreign disturbances 01 any other infraction of treaties occur therein, which are not immediately suppressed and the responsible parties punished, the said official shall at once be removed and prohibited forever thereafter from holding office or receiving official honors.
Mr. Conger states that all of these points are very important, and believes that, even if a separate convention with the powers agreeing should be necessary, they should be insisted upon.)