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Show WU OPPOSES GERMANY. Says the Demand Is Unjust and Impracticable. Im-practicable. Washington, Sept. 19. Minister W'u Ting Fank was greatly Interested in Germany's note to the powers asking combined action in a demand that those responsible for the trouble in China be punished as an indispensable preliminary prelim-inary to any peace negotiations. When seen at the legation he had before him a copy of the published text of the note. "The condition imposed upon China would amount to determining one of the subjects of negotiations before negotiations ne-gotiations had commenced." said he. ''The Chinese envoys are Invested with complete power to . make terms with the powers, so that when the negotiations negotia-tions are opened this' question and all others will be proper subjects for consideration con-sideration and general settlement by those having- complete authority to deal with them. But to take one subject in advance, settle it, and make its execution execu-tion an Indispensable preliminary to negotiations, is extremely hard. "But more than this, such a condition, condi-tion, if imposed, is simply impossible, and being impossible the effect would be' to bring the peace negotiations to a complete standstilLV Suppose the situation sit-uation was reversed, and this unfortunate unfortu-nate trouble had occurred in some one of the countries now dealing with China. In the midst of extreme tension suspicion might have been directed against persons per-sons high in authority, even against the members of the royal family in that country. Would that country, when the question of ce'Ulement came up, for a moment consider the surrender surren-der of those persons vaguely suspected, or would it 'not ask that all questions be considered by the court which was to pass upon the entire subject? Who could tell to who this condition would apply? "There have been Intimations against those high in Chinese affairs, but it would be very hard, yes, impossible, to say in advance before the negotiators had considered the question that these persons should be given up. Who would furnish the proof? It is an indispensable in-dispensable requisite, according to your recpgnized judicial methods, that persons accused have the right to be heard. and that I their evidence shall be taken into account in proving an accusation But according to this proposition there would be a surrender of the party first, before .the negotiators had an opportunity oppor-tunity to consider all questions of proof which might be presented." |