Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-07-12
LETTER FROM AMERICAN
AMBASSADOR AT PEklNG
Department Of State Receives Re-
port From conger Telling Of
Inception Of Trouble.
WRITTEN MONTH AND A HALF AGO
Foreign Ministers Reulizetl the Dan-
gers of the situation several
Weeks Before Outbreaks
Occurred in Picking.

gers OF the Situation Several
Weeks Before Outbreaks
Occurred in Picking.
Washington, July 10.-The last China
mail to reach the state department
brought the report of Minister Con
ger, perhaps the last that will ever
come to hand. This bears date of
Picking, May 21. 1t is of the utmost
Importance, disclosing as it does a
comprehension on the part of the for
eign ministers in Picking of the char
acter and extent of the Boxer upris-
ing, even though Mr.. Conger, himself
by disposition optimistic, found rea-
son to hope that the worst was over
at that date. What Mn. Conger has
to say as to the attitude of the Chi
nese government toward the Boxer
movement as revealed in the formal
Interchange that took place between
himself and the tsung Ii yamcn, is
not only OF peculiar interest now, but
probably will have strong bearing
on the final reckoning that must be
had between the civilized nations and
Chinese. Mr.. Conger makes it very
clear, through the publication of the
French priests letter, that at least
one and probably all of the European
nations having interests in northern
China We're acquainted with the
dangers of the situation at least two
or three weeks before the actual out
break in Picking.
The correspondence referred to fol-
lows:
Legation of the United States of
America, Peking. May 21.-To the
Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State,
Washington-Sir: have the honor to
confirm, on the overleaf, my cipher
telegram today.
lin response to the request of tho
French minister's the dean called a
meeting of the diplomatic corps yes
terday, and upon information fur
nished in a letter from the Catholic
bishop in Peling and verbal reports
by the other ministers, the situation
was considered so grave that the
corps unanimously instructed the
dean to present it to the tsung Ii
yamen and demand immediate and eff
fective measures, which he did today
by the note, copy of which is ell
closed.
81 also enclose copies of the British
letter, and one from Rev. Mr.. Killie,
an American missionary who lives in
north and east.
'Onthe 18th inst, during and extend
ed personal interview With the tsung
the fact that notwithstanding the
~, Il
er legations the Boxers had continue
ally increased and spread, until now
they are boldly organizing inside tho
thousands is known in the village:
around Peking. Christian convert.
are being prosecuted and threatened
everywhere, many forced to recant
their religious professions. and many
have been compelled to abandon theil
chapels and come to Picking fol
safety.
81 said: at London mission nea,
Chou Chou. forty miles west of Pc
king, two native Christians have beer
killed and their chapel destroyed
Near Pao Ting Flu a Catholic village
has been destroyed and sixty-ont
Christians murdered some of then
being burned alive. The foreign gov
ernments cannot longer sit idly by
and witness this persecution and MUIR
der. ! can only speak for my owl
government, but it is becoming yer,
impatient over China's continue,
treaty violation. 1t always has beef
and still is the good friend of China
and only wishes it prosperity. but il
now more than ever determined tt
sustain the treaty rights of all Ameri
cans and of the Christian converts
and will hold the Chinese government
to the strictest responsibility for CIV
cry treaty infraction in this regard
1t will do this, not only for the bene
fit of it's own citizens, but in the in
terest of China herself, whose govern
ment is now sadly threatened b,
these lawless organizations. At pres
ent, it is true, they seem to have n,
capable leader, but should one arts
and the populace become really in
famed. the overthrow of the presen
dynasty is most likely to follow. an,
possibly the destruction of the EN-
pire. etc, etc.
"They replied that did not under
stand the many difficulties undo
which they labored. but they had sue
ceeded in suppressing the Boxers ii
the province of Shan Tung and woul,
40 so here.
81 told them I saw no cffectiv
measures whatever being put forth
They replied that the movement ha
not heretofore been looked npon a
serious. but that now the throne wa
fully aware of the gravity of the sit
uation and that a recent confidential
decree had been sent to the viceroA
the Picking and neigl,horng officials
which would surely prove effective
suppress the Boxers and restore OIL
der.
81 told them that the most alarm
ing kilograms We're being sent to tn
newspapers of Europe and America q
the existing state of anarchy here
and that the people OF the worl
would be forced to believe that tn
government of China was either abet
ting these mrrderous brigands, o
that it was too weak to suppress o
control them. and it's good name an
credit must suffer irrevocably in cor
sequence.
1'After reading me the decree, whic
was much like those heretofore pub
1ished, they asked me if would no
wire my government that they coul
and We're suppressing the Boxers.
II replied that at present wonl
not; that / had been for six month
telegraphing the issuance of ineffect
tive DEGREES. but if they would sho,
me the fact 10y actual and immediat
OME I'M THE SITUATION