The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-10

tions Still Under Fire To Test
Chinese sincerity - Americans Not
in Battle Of Peit Sang.
Washington, August S.-The Chinese
situation is considered very grave by
the authorities in Washington. The
receipt of the message from Mr.. Con-
ger last night which indicated a con-
tinuation of the firing upon the lega-
tiOns and the Chinese governments in
sistence that the ministers should leave
Pekin, which Mr.. COnger considered
would mean certain death, brought
matters to an acute stage. All day the
cabinet officers who are in town have
been consulting with each other, and
the president has been communicated
with by telegraph and over the long dis
tance telephone. Secretary Root held
two conferences with Attorney Gener
al Griggs and several with acting Sec
retary of State Adee and their views
were communicated to the president.
As a result of these consultations it
was announced officially at the close
of the day that a message to the i'm
perial government at Pekin had been
delivered to Minister Wu for transmits
sion to his government. The text of
the message was prepared by acting
Secretary of State Adee and Secretary
Root and in its final form was made
known to the president, in a talk con-
Quoted by Mr.. Root over the White
House long distance telephone.
1t was then stated definitely that the
authorities of this government would
not make public the text of this latest
Nffpsaf ion
Wu had had opportunity to forward
it to his government.
The chief officials of the government
were not willing to outline in any def
mite manner the contents of the mes
sage although it was accepted gener-
ally that the communication was en-
phatic and to the point.
The message sent to the Chinese gov
ernment through Mr.. Wu, according to
the best information obtainable, in
forms that government that the re-
mOyal of the restrictions upon COM
municatiOn with our minister both by
the receipt of Mr.. Congers message
and the transmission of the edict of the
5th is very gratifying, but is not an
entire compliance with the original de-
mands of the president in his reply to
the appeal for mediation. The presi-
dent in his original communication to
the emperor of China laid down three
conditions precedent to any action look
ing to negotiations for the settlement
OF the difficulties between China and
the powers. These conditions in the
presidents own words were as follows:
Il most sOlemnly urge upon your
maJeSty'S government to give public
assurance whether the foreign minis
ters are alive and if so in what condi-
ton.
ITO put the diplomatic representa-
tives OF the powers in immediate and
free communication with their respec-
tive governments and to remove all
danger to their lives and liberty.
To place the imperial authorities of
emma In communication with the re-
lief expedition so that cooperation
may be secured between them for the
liberation OF the legations and the pro
lection Of foreigners and the restora-
ton of order
These three demands practically were
reiterated in the dispatch which Secre-
tary Hay sent to Consul General Good
now at Shanghai August 1st for sub
mission to Earl Ii Hung Chang.
The authorities consider that the
opening of communication with Minis
ter Conger, therefore, only partially
complies with the presidents demands
with the legations still under fire, the
Ch1nese government cannot be said to
nave removed ''all danger to their lives
and property, and moreover, so far
as known here, the imperial authori-
ties of China have made no efforts to
communicate with the relief expedi.
ton. The new demand upon the Chi
nese government is for square-toed
compliance with those conditions
Ihere is hope, growing out of the fact
that the Chinese government has Weld
ed partially; that when confronted
with the firm position taken by the
United States it will be sufficiently i'm
pressed TO make complete acquiescence
rms governments determination, it j:
noped, Will show the Chinese govern.
ment that the United States is not rc
De trlfed with and will bring the shift
ing, eVaSlve authorities in Pekin to G
reahzat1on of the situation and tht
consequences of refusal
Minister Wu early in the day brough
10 the state department the imperia
edict removing the restrictions fron
lree communication with the ministers
he was plainly perturbed over Minis
Ter Congers report that the legation.
were under fire, but still contended tha.
als government was acting in soo(
1alth and protested against a rnisin
depreciation of the situation n
pointed out the fact that the ahsenc.
OF artillery fire might indicate tba
there We're no regular troops ENGAGE
in the assault and that the rife fir,
spoken of by Mr.. Conger might h
simply sniping by disgruntled irresu
lars who were engaged in guerrilI,
tactics.
Two dispatches were received durin,
the day, one from Admiral Remey an,
the other from General Chaffee. Bot
related to the fighting at Peit Sane
Admiral Remey's dispatch stated spe
ci1cally that the Americans Were no
engaged and general Chaffee's dispatc
explains how it was that they practi
caly were out of it. They occupie
the rear Of the turning column. OWN
10 the limited ground of operation
Wn1cn ne mentions, it is probable tha
the americans could not be brough
into Inc thick Of the fighting and the
mus escaped without casualties Th
fact that the American troops did nc
nave an opportunity to distinguis
themselves was something of a disap
po1ntment 10 the officials of the war de