The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1900-07-27
THE CHINESE SITUATION.
The State Department at Washing
ton at Present the Center
of Interest.
SECRETARY HAY IS BUSILY ENGAGED.
Foreign Governments Decline to Ac-
cept the Alleged COPGer Dispatch
as Conclusive, and Refuse to Base
Any Action on Those Premises
without COrrObOratIon.

| W dSillllS IOIls Uuly @O--- l. nt SldIe Qe-
partment is the center of interest on
the Chinese situation. Secretary Hay
was at his desk by a. M, and for an
hour was busily engaged with a
matter of such Importance that he de-
clined 10 be interrupted by anyone.
About 1C:15 the Chinese minister ar
rieVd, and was with the secretary for
some time. On the departure of the
minister the secretary gave out the
imperial edict of the Chinese govern
nient, the substance of which had pre-
viausly been made public.
A DeIuGe of Dispatches.
The state department has received
deluge of dispatches from all quar-
tors CT the globe relating to the Con-
ger message. These show the attitude
of foreign governments. Without ex-
ception, the official view taken by all
| foreign offices is that the dispatch is
not genuine, and does not afford a
basis for action. This incredulity is
also shared by United States Consul
Goodnow, at Shanghai, who has COM
Inunicated to the state department his
disbelief in the authenticity of the
message.
Messages Not Made Public.
The text of these several messages is
not made public, as they are inconclu-
sive, and do not add anything in the
way of definite news to the situation
at Pekin, the entire tenor being one
of doubt and suspicion. The official
doubts are based on various theories.
~,F
practiced by the tsung Ii yamen itself.
Still another is that it emanated from
high Chinese official-a man holding
q position like that of Shang or Prince
Tuan, the latter being at the head of
the anti-foreign element, and at last
accounts with the tsung Ii yamen.
In Spite of the Flood of Doubt.
Notwithstanding This flood of doubt
from foreign official quarters, the state
department has not varied it's position
as 10 the authenticity of the message,
Secretary Hays position being now,
Us it always has been, that there is
every probability of the genuineness of
the message, although always a posi-
bility that a fraul may have been per-
petTated. But as against this remote
possibility, Mr.. Hay feels that there is
absolutely nc motive for the perpe-
tration of such a mOnstrOus deception.
The Washington government is un-
shaken, therefore, in its position on the
message, while the rest of the world
has made it known TO this government
that this message it not accepted as
coming from Conger on the 18th inst.
The Mediation Proposition.
Concerning the proposition Of media
ton, made to the United States by
China, the state department was not
prepared to make any statement. 1t
was surmised that Mr.. Hay was en-
gagged in considering the governments
answer, which probably would be de
lvered to Minister INu later but no
statement as to the course of proceed
ure could be obtained in any official
quarter.
Communication With the President.
As communication will be required
between Washington and the presi-
dent, it is hardly likely that the an
swer will be forthcoming at once. Both
the state department and CHR csc Of
ficials took occasion early in the day
to deny a report that plans were on
foot toward the delivery cf Minister
Conger by the Chinese authorities to
Admiral Remey at Tien Tsin.
Making Another Effort.
There is reason TO believe that the
government is again using every eff
fcrt to secure communication with
Minister Conger, and this time to get
an answer from our minister which
Will be so conclusive az to remove any
shadow of doubt. In this connection,
1t was reported that Minister WI, on
Sunday, sent another cipher cablc dis
patch to Minister Conger, but there
is a strcng disincliration in official
quarters to discuss the various steps
being taken, while they are still in an
inconclusive form.
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