Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1900-08-11
CLOSE TO A CRISIS.
All Day Session Of the Cabinet Over
Chinese Situation.
Minister Congsr's Message OF Tuesday Has
brought Matters to IN Acute Slate
Message to the Imperial
Government.


brought Matters to IN Acute Slate
Message to the Imperial
Government.
Washington, Aug. 0.-The Chinese
situation Is considered very grave by
the authorities In Washington. The
receipt Of the message from Minister
Conger Tuesday night which indicated
continuation Of firing on the lega'
TONERS and the governments insist
ancc that the ministers should leave
Pel<in, which Mr.. Conger considered
would mean certain death, brought
matters to an acute stage. All day
the cabinet officers, who are in town,
have been consulting with each other
and the president was communicated
with by telegraph and by telephone
Secretary Root held two conferences
with Attorney General Griggs and
several with Acting Secretary OF State
Adee and their views were communi-
Gated to the president. As result
II was announced that q message to
the imperial government Mt Pekin had
been delivered to Minister WI for
transmission to his government. The
text of the message was prepared by
Acting Secretary of State Adee and
Secretary Root, and in its final form
was made known to the president in
a talk conducted by Mr.. Root over the
white house long distance telephone.
II was then stated definitely that the
authorities of this government would
not make public the text OF this latest
communication to China until Minis
ter WI had had the opportunity to
forward II to his government. The
chief officials of the government were
not willing to outline in any definite
manner the contents of the message,
although II was generally accepted
that the communication was emphatic
and to the point.
The state department sent n cipher
cable message to Minister Congcr,
responsive to his message made pub
lie Tuesday night and intended to
test the assertion of the Chinese edict
that free cipher communication would
be allowed.
The message sent to the Chinese
government through Mr.. WI, accord
ing to the best information obtain
able, informs that government that
the removal of the restrictions upon
communication with our ministers
evidenced both by the receipt of Mr.
Conger's message and the transmits
sion of the edict of the 5th. is very
gratifying, but is not an entire com.
pliance with the original demands oil
the president in his reply to the ap'
peal for mediation. The presi'
dent, in his original communica'
ton to the emperor of China, laid
down three conditions precedent ia
any action looking to negotiations for
settlement OF the difficulties between
China and the powers. These condi'
tions, in the presidents own words
were MS follows: II most solemnly
urge upon your majesty's government
to give public assurance whether the
foreign ministers are alive, and II SC
In what condition. To put the diplo'
matte representatives of the powers
in immediate and free communication
with their respective governments and
to remove all dangers to their lives
and liberty. To place the imperial nu'
thorities of China in communication
with the relief expedition so that co
operation may be secured between
them for the liberation Of the lega'
tions and the protection OF foreign
ers, by the restoration Of order"
These three demands practically
were reiterated in the dispatch which
Secretary Hay sent to Consul Genera
Goodnow Mt Shanghai August ], fol
submission to Earl Ii Hung Chang
The authorities consider that the
opening of communication with Min
lister Conger therefore only partially
complies with the presidents de
mands. With the legationers still un
der fire the Chinese government can
not be said to have removed "all dan
gers to their lives and liberty" and
moreover, so far rs known here, the
imperial authorities OF China hav'
made no efforts to communicate ant
cooperate with the relief expedition
This governments determination, IT IL
hoped, will show the Chinese govern
ment that the United States Is moi
TO be trified with, and will bring the
shifting, evasive authorities In Pekir
TO n full realization of the situation
and the consequences Of refusal.
Minister WI early In the day
brought to the state department the
imperial edict removing the restric
tions from free communication with
the ministers.
Two dispatches were received dur
ing the day, one from Admiral RemeJ
and the other from Gen. Chaffee
Both related to the fighting at Peit
sang. Admiral Remey's dispatch
stated specifically that the Americans
were not engaged, and Gen. Chaffee''
dispatch explained how 1t was that
they practically were out OF It. They
occupied the rear Of the turning col
umn, Owing TO the limited ground Of
operations which he mentions IL Is
probable that the Americans could
not be brought into the thick OF The
fighting, and they thus escaped with
out casualties.