The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-06
CHINESE EDICT'
YUNG LII ORDERED TO PROVIDE AN
ESCORT FOR LEGATIoNERs.
Will Be Permitted 10 Leave Peking
for Tien-Tsin whenever
They Choose to start.
TWO BELATED MESSAGES
FROM MINISTER CONGER AND SEC
RETARY saUIERs.
Both Dated July 81. and stated
There Had Been No Fighting
Since the 10th Tit.
HAD ENOUGH PROVISIONS
But WE'RE HOPING FOR SPEEDY
RELIEF FROM THEIR PERIL.
Ministers Permitted to Send and Re-
ceive Plain Dispatches, but No
Cipher Communications.
NO ANSWER YET TO HAYS NOTE
REPLY AWAITED WITH ANXIETY BY
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS.
&C.
Ministers Permitted to Send and Re-
ceive Plain Dispatches, but No
Cipher Communications.
NO ANSWER YET TO HAYS NOTE
REPLY AWAITED WITH ANXIETY BY
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS.
No Further Advices from Chanee-
serious Difficulties Encountered
in DebarkinS Troops.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.-A belated mes
sage from Minister Conger was received at
the State Department to-day. 1t came
through Consul General Goodnow. at
Shanghai, who transmitted messages re-
eeived by Mr.. Ragsdale. United States con-
sui at Tien-Tsin, from Conger and Mr..
Squiers, secretary of the United States
legation at Peking. The advices are the
same as those received a day or two ago
by the State Department from Consul Fov-
Ter at che-Foo. Mr.. Goodnow's message
was transmitted to President Mckinley at
Canton. and Mr.. Adee. acting secretary of
state. later in the day issued the follow
ing statement concerning it:
consul General Goodnow. in cablegram
dated shanghai. Aug. 5. which was re-
ceived at the Department of State at 4
O'Clock this Sunday morning, reports the
receipt by Consul Ragsdale, at Tien-Tsin,
of messages from Minister Conger and the
secretary of the legation, Mr.. Squiers, dat
ed July 21, to the following effect:
AN well; no fighting since the 18th by
agreement Enough provisions. Hope for
speedy relief
.'Mr. Goodnow adds that the director of
posts. Sheng. had on the 5th communi-
Gated to him an imperial edict dated July
60. ordering Yung Lu to provide an escort
for the ministers TO Tien-Tsin when the
ministers fix the date. The edct says the
ministers can receive messages not in
cipher. but. Notwithstanding this, plain
messages were returned to some consuls on
Aug. L."
LEGATIONERS STILL SAFE.
While the messages from Minister Con-
ger and Secretary squiers bear the date
OF July 2i, the belief. founded not only on
them. but also upon collateral and latter
information. is that the legationers are yet
safe from immediate harm. At present
there is no means of knowing whether the
ministers will accept the offer of the Chi
nese imperial government to provide an
escort for them to Tien-Tsin, but it is sur
missed that they will prefer to remain with
I'm the British legation at Peking until the
arrival of the allied forces. Should they
leave for Tien-Tsin. in all probability 1t
would be because they regarded ii the
safer course TO pursue. IL is thought to
h. hot he
ment may be very insistent on the depar-
ture OF the ministers. in the hope. If they
can be got to Tien-Tsin in safety the
storming Of Peking may be averted
The inhibition of cipher dispatches to the
ministers. while a serious breach of
diplomatic usage, is not regarded here
with apprehension. The Chinese govern
ment, IL Is pointed out. is suspicious OF the
actions and intent of the powers and prob
ably has adopted this precaution to prevent
communication TO the ministers the details
of military movements. 1t is evident from
the adoption OF this measure that the i'm
periai government regards itself as an
tagonistic 10 IL not actually at war with
the powers. Thus far no inhibition has
been placed on cipher dispatches passing
between the various governments and
their consular representatives i'm China
outside Of PelSing.
NO REPLY TO HAYS NOTE.
The State Department has taken the
ground that the dispatch from the Tsung
Ii Yamen delivered at the department yes
terday by Minister wu Is not an answer 20
the dispatch OF Secretary Hay sent on Aug.
!. In that dispatch Secretsry HAY finally
and decisively insisted that free communi-
cation with the ministers must be estab-
iished before any steps would be taken by
this government toward a peaceful soIu-
tion of the trouble. That dispatch was sent
to Consul General Goodnow TO be by him
transmitted 10 ii Hung Chang. The mes
sage delivered by Minister wa 10 the State
Department yesterday relative to the in
hibition OF cipher dispatches was sent by
the Tsuns Ii Yamen July 30. As of that
date IL had already been communicated 20
the department by Consul Fowler OBJ
viously. therefore. IL could nor be d reply
10 the dispatch sent 70 Mr.. Goodnow by
Secretary Hay on Aug I. a definite reply
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