The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-08
ANOTHER MESSAGE FROM coNGER.
The Government Insists on Ministers Leaving
Pekin Which Means Certain Death.
(By the Associated Press.l


Washington, August Another cable
grom came to the State Department Iate
this afternoon from Minister Conger at
Pekin, the second that has been received
direct from him since June 18th. It is
the first which has come direct from the
Minister since the above date, the other
having been received through the inter-
mediary of the Chinese Minister here.
Mr.. WI. Today's telegram shows tnat
the situation in the Chinese capital is
still of very serious character, that
he Ministers are still in danger from the
Chinese troops and that their supplies Of
ammunition and provisions have been
reduced to a very considerable extent.
So important were the statements con-
tanned in the dispatch that conference
was held by wire between several of the
officials here and the President at Can
ton, lasting for several hours. At its
conclusion the cablegram from Mr.. Con-
ger was made public, as follows:
"Tsin Nan Yamen, Aug. 7th.
ITO Secretary of State, Washington.
Still besieged. Situation more pre-
carious. Chinese Government insisting
upon our leaving Pekin, which would be
certain death. Rifle firing upon us daily
by Imperial troops. Have abundant
courage, but little ammunition or provi-
sions. Two progressive Yamen Ministers
beheaded. All connected with Legation
Of the United States we'll at present mo-
ment.
(Signed) CONGER."
The cablegram came in the official
cipher of the Department. 1t is undated
like Mr.. Conger's previous cablegram, but
from the internal evidence furnished by
his reference to the beheading of two
members OF the Tsung Ii Yamen and to
the insistence of the Chinese Government
Oh the removal of the Ministers from
Pekin, State Department officials say it
may be assigned a date not earlier than
July Goth, and perhaps not later than Au-
gust End. 1t is checked by the telegraph
company as having been put on the wires
at Tsi Nan, large city about eighty
miles southeast of Pekin on August 7th.
The dispatch reached the Department at
APO D. M, but was not made public until
late in the evening.
Those who were at the White House
in conference with the President includ-
ed Acting Secretary Adee of the State
Department, Secretary Root and Adju-
tant General Corbin. Captain Michael,
the chief clerk of the State Department,
through whose hands the cablegrams
passed, was also present at the time.
What the result of the conference was
the officials declined to say That it
will stimulate the energies of the Gov
ernment to it's utmost endeavor to press
forward the advance movement towards
Pekin is certain, for Mr. Conger's message
makes it clear that for the Ministers to
leave Pekin would result in their death.
Secretary Root did not care to make any
statement when asked about the situa-
tion tonight. The officials had been led
to believe. from the more recent dis
patches which had purported to emanate
from Chinese sources, as well as from
Imperial edicts that the condition of the
legationers was much improved, but to-
days adyices eh"--' $ ifferent as
pect of affair
Secretary onight that
Aa tcontir age.)