The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-21
TAKE A ROsEATE VIEW.
Washington OdciaIs Optimistic over
the Conger Dispatch.

Associated Press Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, d. C.. July 9o.-Like a
flash of sunlight out of the dark sky came
the intelligence at an early hour to-day
that United States Minister Conger had
sent a cipher cablegram from Peking to
the State Department at Washington, MAX
ing known that two days ago he was alive,
and that the foreigners were fighting for
their safety. The Chinese minister. Wu
Ting Fang. received the message Within
an hour the welcome intelligence that Mr..
Conger had been heard from, after weeks
of silence and evil report was flashed
throughout the e dntry and, indeed,
throughout the world, dispelling, i'm some
measure. the gloom which had prevailed
everywhere and bringing to officials, and to
the public generally. a sense OF profound
relief The dispatch was in reply TO Sec
retary Hays cable inquiry to Minister
Conger on July Ii and as both messages
were In the American cipher CODE they
were regarded by the officials as above the
suspicion Of having been tampered with
in the course of transmission through
Chinese channels. Mr.. WI promptly COM
municated the dispatch to the State De-
partment, where the translation was made
from the cipher figures, and
soon all Washington was astir with the
intelligence. 1t was telegrapbed by Secre-
tary Hay to the President. who responded
with a wholesome expression of gratifica-
ton. and word of it was sent TO the various
Cabinet officers. They gathered in Secre-
tary Hays office. and an impromptu Cabi-
net conference was held in the diplomatic
chamber, mainly for the purpose of ex-
changing congratulations. and of taking a
survey of the situation to see if IL had
been materially changed by this important
development
First of all, from the standpoint of the
administration official. the most welcome
feature Of the message was the assurance
that the American minister was alive two
days ago. But with this cheering news
came the ominous statement of Minister
Conger that the besieged foreigners were In
the British legation, under continued shot
and shell fire from Chinese troops and
that only quick relief could avert a gen.
eral massacre. After the first flush of
thankfulness, this graver feature of the
message began to impress itself upon Cabi-
net officials most deeply.
The consultation brought about no pro-
nounced change of policy. for it was felt
that already every energy had been bent
toward meeting the situation. and that
there was absolutely nothing more that
could be done After all, the Cabinet Of
ficials felt. and so stated. that the message
was an evidence of the friendiness and
good faith of the pro-foreign element of
the Chinese. and that wisdom dictated
course which would continue to utilize this
friendship.
The government accepted the message
as authentic. and Secretary Hay trans
mitted II TO all our ambassadors and min
listers abroad, with instructions TO Law II
before the respective governments TO which
they are accredited, and to urge upon them
the necessity of cooperation for the i'm
mediate relief of the foreigners at Peking
a message also was sent by Secretary
Long to Admiral Remey. conveying the in
telligence of the desperate situation i'm Pek-
ing and instructing him 10 "use and urge
every possible endcavor for relief"
This message. Secretary Long explained.
meant for Admiral Remey to himself
"use." and TO "urge" upon the command
ing officers of the other powers the use of
every endeavor for relief of Peking. Sec
retary Root sent similar notification to
Colonel Coolidge. the senior American Of
ficer ashore at Tien-Tsin. This action was
the result of the conference of Secretaries
Hay. Long and Root. II was realized that
the land and naval forces OF the United
States now in China could not. single
handed. push on TO Peking. and the other
powers. accordingly. were appealed TO. on
the basis of Minister Conger's message.
10 cooperate for relief.
Secretary Hay explained his reasons for
placing reliance in the authenticity Of Min
lister Conger's dispatch, saying that IL was
a complete reply in code TO the code mes
sage sent 10 him. and that It's authenticity
Was vouched for by the Tsung Ii Yamen.
''of course said Secretary Has. smiling.
II am not omniscient and may oe fooled.
CONTINUED on FIFTH FAGE)