The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-24


days session the absorbing question
been the safety Of Minister Conger
and the legation at Pekin- Now, how
ever, that has given place to problems
of a more far-reaching character,
touching the very existence of the Chi
tirely to the Chinese situation. Secre-
reconstruction Of that country.
The meeting today was devoted en-
tarfes Hay n Root who have been
mos active in directing affairs, were
absent from the city so that h at
tendance, comparatively, was small,
the president having with him Secreta-
ries Gage, Hitchcock and Wilson and
Postmaster General Smith. Several
questions We're awaiting attention.
First of these was the application of
Lii Hung Chang for the appointment
of Minister Conger or some other COM
missioner to negotiate for the cessation
of hoStilities.
h decision arrived at was to reject
the appeal, and a reply of this charac
ter will be sent to Minister WI to be
forwarded to Ii Hung Chang. The
moving cause for this action is that
this government is at present very
American government is to take in the
much in the dark as to whether there
is any existing government in China.
With the capital in the HANDS of the
allies, the emperor and empress dow
ager f~ugitives in hiding, n the entire
government paralyZed, there is no evil
enc of an authority q to con-
duct negotiations and secur results
which viii be final and binding.
NO CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
1t was stated by members of the
cabinet that the Chinese establishment.
instead of being a government, appears
to be an headleSS affair
without the knowledge Of what is for
its best good and without power to
enforce it's wishes. With the recognized
rulers in flight, no one seems to know
who, if anybody, is directing its affairs.
As China is an absolute monarchy,
without a legislative branch, the en-
perOr and empress dowager are all
powerful, and practically they are the
empire of China
TO ACT WITH GREAT PRECAU-
TON.
Under the present remarkable condi-
tions, the United States will act with
extra caution in whatever steps II may
axe toward a solution of the pending
problems. In the meantime there Is
reason to believe that he United States
and all the other powers interested
will keep their armed forces on the
ground, so hat order may be main
tanned and, at least a Semblance Of
existing chaos.
REPLY TO THE VICEROYS AP
PEAL.
The reply of this government to tn
appeal of the ViceroyS OF Nankln ant
Human tina no ~indignitieS be Offered
the emperor and empress dowager is
formal acknowledgement Of h re
ceipt of the ommunication with
satisfactory assurance that no ind1gn1
ties would De offered the persons o
their majeStieS. This reply is couche'
in the polite language Of diplomacy
but it is understood that it does not
in any way, commit the government [
refrain from imposing on the empero
and empress doWager any penatt.
that subsequently, might be decide'
upon in case it is proved hat the,
were directly responsible for the. re
cent atrocities. This question of fixing
responsibility where it belongs n i'm
posing any punishment that may b
deemed fit has not received forma
consideration as yet. n two vice
roys' appeal is met accordingly with
diplomatic assurance that the right
of the emperor and empress dowage
will be protected, but does not impos
any barrier to a proper punishment
such as may be sanctioned by civil
lied usage, for any offense which here
after may be held to call for an &C
counting. This is the interpretatio
given the reply by a cabinet officis
tonight. The question of responsible
ity Will ave to be worked out slowl.
a CABLEGRAM FROM CONGEI
The cabinet had before it a messae
from Minister Conger received la:
night. After the meeting, the state d.
partmnt made public portions of II
dispatch as follows:
United States Legation. Pekin, (ul
dated), via Che Foo. August 20.
Secretary of State Washington:
Saved. Relief arrived today. E
tered the city with little trouble. Don
e know where imperial family i
Except deaths already reported q
Americans are alive and Well. Despe
ate efforts made last night to EXTERN
nate US. Mitchell, American soldie
and a Russian and a Japanese woun
ed; a erman killed. Advise Woodwar
Chicago; Conger, Des Moines; Sim
Council Bluffs; COnger, Passadeni
Porter, Paris. "CONGER,"
by Fowler, Che Foo
1t will be observed that the portion
given out are extracts from MiniSt
Conger. 1t is stated that these po
lions cover such eatures as the go
eminent desires TO make public at tn
time. The entire message was befo
he cabinet and the portion not Civ,
out, doubtless, refers to questions
policy and to Chinese internal affai
upon which the minister speaks as t
advisor of the government rather tn;
as the medium of the communicate,
of actual occurrences.
1t had been hoped that Minister Co
gers advices, as Well as tho
from General Chaffee would be ann
by this time, in order to afford [
-. Full annnnrt1r N