The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1900-08-03
AS TO THE MINISTER'S
Latest Message From Oonger Throws nc
Light on the Situation.
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS MYSTfIfD
Reason for Believing Two Communica-
tions Are About of Same Date-Tak
Reiterates Safety of Foreigners
China's Appeals for Mediation.

WASHINGTON, July 26.-The re-
ceipt at Tien Tsin of an undoubtedly
genuine and autographs message from
Minister Conger has lone nothing to
dissipate the doubt as to the situa-
ton at Pekin. The message, which
was forwarded by the naval officers at
Tien sin, Taku and Chez Foo, has in
deed served only to deepen the mys-
terry. The message comes from Cap
tain Charles M. Thomas, commander
of the Brooklyn, and is as follows:
CHEZ FOO, July 24.-Navigation
Bureau, Washington: Written mes
sage, signed Conger, dated July 4, re-
ceived Tien Tsin, 21st, says: Been be-
sieged two weeks British legation.
Grave danger general massacre by Chi
nese soldiers, who are Smelling legation
daily. Relief soon if at all. City with
out government except by Chinese
army. Determined massacre all for
eigners Pekin. Entry relief forces into
city probably be holly contested
THOMAS"
The official conclusion remains un-
changed, of course, but it is admitted
that a careful scrutiny of the auto
graph message in comparison with the
famous cipher message from Minister
Conger admits of the belief that the
two messages were written by MIR.
Conger at about the same time. The
situation at the British legation is rep
resented to be the same in each case,
and as Mr.. Conger declares that relief
must come quickly, if at all, there is
ground for the supposition that condi-
lions could not long have remained I'M
changed in such a crisis. The assump-
ton that this reasoning is correct in
wolves the further conclusion that MI.
Conger's cipher message, if genuine,
was redated as of the 18th of July, two
weeks later than the date of actual
writing and, of course, if redated at
all, that was done by Chinese officials.
On the other hand, and in suppogt
OF the state department position, came
today a message from another Of the
great Chinese viceroys, TAX, at Canton,
he who took charge after Ii Hung
Cnang's departure. This also affirmed
solemnly the safety of the ~legationers
and coming from so many different
sources and from such important Chi
nese officials, these dispatches do claim
attention. A pessimistic view of them,
however, attributes to them ali a COM
mon origin, namely, some n high
Chinese parsonage at Pekin. 1t is noted
that Talks assurance brings the minis
tiers one day further towards ultimate
rescue than has any preceding mes
sage, the fact that it allows only three
days to I'VE the transmission over
the great distance between PeK1n and
Canton has attracted attention here
and appears to demand explanation if
the message is to be accepted as of
genuine origin.
ut was not known to the state de-
partment until the publication of the
fact in the news dispatches that the
French government also had been adj
dressed by the Chinese government in
the effort to secure mediation. 1t now
appears that still other powers were
addressed in a similar strain. 1t is
known that Great Britain and Ger
many and probably Russia have re-
ceived such message. The language is
not the same, but the animating idea
is.