Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-08-11
REPLIED TO CONGER.
State Department Kept Con-
tents of Note From Public.
ATTEMPTED DECEPTION By CHINA.
The United states Government Never
Has Advised Ministers to Leave Pckin
Under Chinese Escort = Neither Have
Other Powers-Conger Reported.

Washington Aug. lin the light
OF dispatch from Minister Conger,
received b. the state department
through Minister Nn. the attitude of
the administration Is that there is but
one thing to be done in the present cir
tumstances, namely, to press ON to the
relief Of the besieged garrison at Pc
kin. This was made known after ex-
tended communications between
Washington and the president 1T Can
ton. The Gonger dispatch x9s re-
ceIyed mt the Chinese legation and
Minister Wu presented it to Acting
Secretary Adee at the state depart
ment 1t was in the American cipher
and was found to be an identical note
with that of the other ministers at
Pekin. THAT of the French minister,
NJ Pichon, having already appeafed),
with the additional fact that seven
members of the American guard had
been killed and 16 wounded. The text
of the message, as given out by the
state department, is as follows:
Secretary of State, Washington:
.The Tsung Ii Yamen states to the
diplomatic body that the various for
eign governments have repeatedly
asked, through the respective Chinese
ministers, that we Immediately depart
from Pekin under suitable escort. The
yamen asks us to fix date for our
departure and to make the necessary
arrangements to do so. Our reply Is
that we will seek instructions from our
governments. and that in the absence
Of such instructions we cannot quit our
posts.
Il must inform you that in order to
insure our safe departure foreign
troops only can safely escort us, and
they must be in sufficient force to
safely guard 500 foreigners, including
200 women and children, as well as B.
600 native Christians, who cannot be
abandoned to certain massacre. We
cannot accept a Chinese escort under
any circumstances. All my colleagues
are dispatching the foregoing to their
respective governments.
"Of the American marines seven
have been Killed and Is wounded,
among the latter being Captain Myers
and DR. Lippett, who are getting along
WELL
The message is undated, but is sup
posed to have been sent on or after the
9Th of August, when the imperial edict
removing the inhibition against the
ministers sending cipher kilograms
was issued
The discussion with the president
led to the determination to reply to
the Conger message at once. and ac-
cordingly Secretary Root and Acting
Secretary Adee conferred on the terms
Of this reply 1t was sent later.
Tt was announced officially and posi-
lively that this message would not be
made public. either in whole or in sub
stance IT was made plain. however.
that the message was sufficiently
guarded as not to further increase the
jeopardy of our minister in ease the
Chinese have access to the cipher.
The United Safes government never
has entertained for moment the idea
of having the minister set out on the
pilgrimage from Pekin to
the coast under Chinese protection.
This government has transmitted
to the other powers interested the note
TO the Chinese government entrusted to
Minister Wa on the night of the Sth
1t has assurances from the other pow
ers that they have not advised their
to accept Chinese es
cort from Pekin.
Secretary of War Root said that
here was no convincing evidence
in possession of this government that
any of the dispatches really reached
Minister Conger.