The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-22

1t is not open to doubt that the dezpatoh
received from Minister Conger yesterday
| created dismay in the Administration cir
Gle. Only small fragment of the messsge
YVES given out, and that did not include a
word of the sensational news our rescued
| representative sent. But for the New
| York Herald interview with him, Just
after the Ministers were relieved. the pub
| lie might be and remain in ignorance of s
views on the question OF Chinese official re-
spousibility for the bombardment OF the le-
cations and other treacheries and atIo
cities. Butt rs the fact that he had de-
nounced the imperial Chinese Government
as completely culpable, and had accused it
| of strenuous efforts to capture and massa-
| ere the diplomats and ether foreigners, as
already known officials of the State De-
partment felt compelled to admit that the
Conger report alleged state of war.
thinly attended Cabinet meeting wo--
ried over the new development. in the hope
that it could be handled in some way 10 ST
ford a color of excuse for not calling Con-
gress together After the meeting it vac
said by one of the Administration pilots
that. perhaps in the excitement of the mo-
ment. end with his nerves badly unstrung
by the terrible ordeal through which he had
passed. Mr.. Conger may have taken a more
severe view of the Chinese Governments
actions. edfcts, murders, massacres. ard
so on than he viii after resting a few days.
On this account it was decided that the
statements and declarations of this first re-
h boa
been instructed to prepare another de-
spatch at once, and TO forward it by cable
without delay.
This action on the part Of the Admins
tration is quite in line with our prediction
of yesterday. 1t means that Conger's fat
assertion that China has been knowingly
and officially waging war on the United
States. is to be suppressed; and, probably,
that he has been ordered to recall that and
other unwelcome expressions, and to pre-
pare a totally different opinion, after the
manner Of Magoon, which the White House
can use as further excuse for avoidance
of mandatory constitutional duty.
There may be some doubt concerning Mr..
Conger's willingness to be used in such
way, besides which he doubtless has COM
mitted himself too far. in conversations
with newspaper men and foreign officers by
this time, to make it possible for him TO
row manufacture a new set of convistions,
/ without laying himself open to the charge
of inyeracity. Beyond that consideration.
the country Will soon begin to hear from
the eight hundred legationers who have
been through the siege, and some of them
will be very apt to know the real mental
attitude of our representative and be able
TO prove it. However nothing Of that kind
is likely to be necessary, as. unless the
Herald" interview can be discTedited all
the Magooning in the world would be
wasted in an effort TO make the country be-
lieve that Conger has not officially notified
his Government that the Chinese imp raj
authorities at Pekin prepared for and DELHI
erstely proceeded to wage war upon the
United States and attempted to butcher its
Minister. his staff. guards, servants, and
the citizens who mad taken refuge under
cur legation flag. It yet remains to be
seen how far the Administration terror Of
Congress will carry il in refusing to psT-
form its plain duty. and in de-yirg dis
tinct mandate of the Cons tuition.