The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-03
CHINA'S PLOT EXPOSED
ATTACK ON LEGATIONS lNSTIGATeO
BY THE GOVERNMENT
DOUBLE-DEALING SHOWN UP
While Supplicating the Powers to
Aid I'm Suppressing the Boxers Inn
periaI Edicts Were Issued to the
Latter Commenting Their Work and
Urging determination of Foreigners.
Advance on Pekin Begun-Another
Urgent Call for Relief.

Washington. August 1.-The Chinese
imperial government is putting forth
the most powerful efforts to secure
through negotiations the abandonment
Of the international movement upon
Pekin. The cablegrams received at
the state department to-day from Ii
Hung Chang all tend TO demonstrate
the desire of this leader to secure the
succor of the ministers at Pekin and
their delivery at Tien TSin if this can
be safely effected, trusting that in re-
turn the international column can be
halted
Unquestionably, a proper assurance
of the safe delivery of the ministers
would have some effect upon the tenn
per Of the powers, and it is possible
that the United States government
would give an ear to overtures in that
direction were not the attempt made
by the Chinese to impose conditions
upon the delivery that are altogether
objectional.
Such, for instance, is a stipulation
that the Chinese imperial authorities
shall be abSolVed in advance from the
consequences of the attempt and for
liability for what has taken place in
Pekin. The first stipulation might be
regarded as a direct invitation to the
Boxers to murder the ministers on their
way to the coast and, therefore, our
government Will leave it TO Mr.. Conger
himself whether or not he regards it
as safe to leave Pekin when the oppor-
tunity is held out.
1t is said here that the one possible
means of stOnning the forward move
ment of the column within the reach
OF the Chinese government is an in
slant compliance with the first de-
mands of the powers, namely: That
the ministers be put in free communi-
cation with their governments.
II has been suggested to the Pekin
authorities that they send an embassy
Immediately to Tien Tsin clothed with
full authority TO deal with the situa-
ton and given unlimited power TO az
ford reparation for the injuries inflicted
upon the internationals.
If this is preceded by the release of
the ministers from siege there is a pos
Sibility that the powers, temporarily,
VIII suspend the military movement
which may, in the end, be rendered
| unnecessary if the embassy meets the
| demands of Europe and America.
Meanwhile there has been no change
| as 10 the military programme of which
our government was to-day advised.
| The senior United States naval officer
| at Taku already is under the most posi-
| tive instructions to urge a forward
| movement, these having been sent by
| Secretary Long just after the receipt
of the original Conger message, and he
| also was advised of the intention of the
| government to add TO his force.
| These matters are referred TO in the
| belated dispatch from Tien Tsin which
| touched upon the military situation
and the prospects of a speedy forward
| movement. But no additional instruc-
| tions on this point were sent to the
| United States army officer to-day and
| the government is allowing its officers
| on the spot TO shape their own cam
| palgn, relying particularly upon the
| very full instructions previor sly given
to General Chaffee, both in person and
by cable upon his arrival al Nagasaki
| NO NEW DEVELOPME-< -
| Secretary Root said to-day that there
had been no developments i'm the
diplomatic situation which would de-
lay the advance on Pekin, and that
General Chaffee had orders to cover any
contingency which might arise.
A statement has been made in the
| dispatches from Europe to the effect
| that the United States is pushing Gen.
| eral Chaffee for chief command II
| was said at the war department to-
| day that such was not the case, though
it was recognized that the situation
| might be such as to make it necessary
| for him to accept the command if tend
| cred by the other powers.