The true northerner., 1900-08-10
BELATED
DISPATCH
RECEIVED BY THE GOVERNMENT
YRom MINISTER CoNGER.
gKGx.IIN1 $50 raE iOih IA
AGREEMENT.
REPORT or rHB SUICIDE OF Ii
HUNG CHANG DIsCREDITED.


patrh from Minister Conger was re
cefved Sunday at the state department.
IL came through Consul Goodenow, at
Shanghai, who transmitted Messages
received by Mr.. Ragsdale, United
States consul at fien Tsin, from Mr..
Conger and Mr.. Squiers, secretary OF
the United States legation AT Pekin. In
effect the adviees are the same as
those received a day or two ago by
the state department from Consul
Fowler, 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 following statement
concerning IT,
Consul General Goodnow, in ca
biegram dated Shanghai, August 5,
which was received at the department
morning, reports the receipt by Con
sul Ragsdale, at Tien Tsfn, of mes
sages from Minister Conger and the
secretary of the legation, Mr.. Squfers,
dated July 81, to the following effect:
"'An we'll; no fighting since the 18th
by agreement. Enough provisions.
Hope for speedy relief
Mr.. Goodnow adds that the direc-
tor of posts, Sheng. had, on the sch,
communicated TO him an imperial
edict, dated July 80, ordering Jung Lu
to provide an escort for the ministers
TO Tien Tsin wien the ministers fix
the date. The edict says the minis
ters can receive messages not in ci-
pher; but Notwithstanding this, plain
messages were returned to some con-
suis on August A."
Chinese Suspicious.
The inhibition of cipher dispatches
10 the ministers. while a serious breach
of diplomatic usage, is not regarded
here with apprehension. The Chinese
government it is pointed out, is sus-
picious of the actions and intent of the
powers, and probably has adopted this
precaution 20 prevent communication
10 the ministers of details of the mill
tary movements. II is evident from
the adoption of this measure that the
imperial government regards itself as
antagonistic to, If not actually at war
with, the powers. Thus far. no inhibi-
ton has been placed on cipher dis
atehes passing between the various
governments and their consular repre-
sentatives In China, outside of Pekfn.
The state department has taken the
grounds that the dispatch from the
tsung-li- yamen, delivered at the de-
partment Saturday by Minister Wa, is
not an answer TO the dispatch of Sec
retary Hay. sent ON August /. In that
dispatch Secretary Hay finally and de-
cisively insisted that free and uninter-
rupted communication between the
ministers must be established before
any steps would be taken by this gov
eminent toward a peaceful solution OF
the present trouble That dispatch was
sent to ConsulGeneral Goodnow, TO be
by him, transmitted to Ii Hung Chang
The pca.sage delivered by Minister
WI 10 the state department Saturday
relative TO the inhibition of cipher dis
patches, was sent by the tsune-li-ya-
men on July 80. AS of that date il al
ready had been communicated TO the
department by Consul Fowler OBJ
viousfy, therefore, it could not be a
reply to the dispatch sent to Mr.. Good
now by Secretary Hay on August l.
Chanx's Suicide Diseredited.
The report OF the suicide OF III Hung
Chang is wholly discredited in official
circles and no information had been
received regarding II Sunday night,
either by our government or at the
Chinese legation. At the latter there
seems to be no reason known to the
officials why the great Chinese diplo-
mat should take his own life, which in
their minds, would be most deplor-
able event. His death they would re-
gard as a severe loss TO China In the
present perturbed condition Of affairs
existing there. One of the officials sug-
gested the possibility that he has suf-
fered an attack of apoplexy or other
confidence was expressed that the re-
port of his suicide was untrue.
There is good reason 20 believe that
the imperial edict referred TO in Con-
sul-General Goodnow's cable to the
state department has reached Minis
ter Wu, who is spending Sunday with
his family at Cape May. II so, it will
probably be delivered TO the acting sec
retary Of state when the minister re.
turns to Washington to-day. At the
Chinese legation here, however, there
Is no information as to its receit
Chinese FortIfying.
London. Aug 6.-AccOrding 20 trust.
worthy reports received at Shanghai
the Chinese are fOFtifying the Yang
Use river. At fort near Nankin two
eix-inch duick-hre guns were disabled
at the first trial Chinese officials af-
firm that the guns were mounted as n
precaution against Boxers advanc-
f-n sOuthward
Admiral Seymour telegraphed 10 the
admiralty to-day that ne had seen the
vieeroy OF NaBkin Aug. ?: that the
viceroy was very friendly and seemed
anxious to maintain peace In the Yang
Use valley, and had agreed to the
landing Of force OF 1900 British
troops for the defense OF Shanghai.
The viceroy returned the admirars