The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-21
SIGNS OF DUPLIClTY,


picions to the consistency of all the re.
ports that have come from Chinese sourc.
es. According to these reports the lsEa.
tions we're In great danger and the foreign
cfs In danger Of massacre on June -
Then they were surrounded and beinl
bombarded with heavy guns on July 5 ant
were in even more imminent danger o.
massacre. On July the report was tina,
| the foreigners were short Of ammunition
and provisions and would probably all b
dead within forty-eight hours.
The report for July was that the lega.
tions were still holding out, but, unless
| relieved at once were certainly doomed. Sc
1t has gone on until yesterday came the re-
port over Mr.. Conger's signature that only
quick relief can prevent q general massa-
ere.
The message from Consul General Fowl
er, at Shanghai. informing Secretary Hay
| that the Shanghai papers of.the 18th pub-
iished the announcement OF the massacre
OF the foreigners in Pekin. is regarded az
further evidence OF dupilcify, for the rea-
son that II the massacre occurred prior to
the 18th, Mr.. Conger could not, Of course.
have sent q message on the 18th.
situation Not Improved.
1t is acknowledged at the State Depart
ment that Mr.. Conger's message, even II
It is genuine, does not improve the sit
uation at all. but confirms the reports of
the desperate straits Of the besIeged par
ty In the British Legation. The very
wording of the message shows that the
party is nearly ready to give up the strug-
gle, and aside from the hope that Minister
Conger has not yet been massaered, the
Department officials realize that there must
be immediate action and an immediate ex-
pedition to Pekin. Secretaries Hay. Root,
and Long, held conference on the mes
sage and discussed the methods to be
adopted for an immediate expedition.
Some speedy action will be agreed upon
with the allied powers SO that there will be
no further delay in pressing on to the
capital.
1t was suggested by several minor ON
cials that there was a probability Of tho
Chinese having secured Mr.. Conger's code
book, and thus sent the cipher message re-
ceived yesterday. Secretary Hay denies that
this could have occurred, as even in the
event Of the Chinese Government having
dozen code books they would be useless
to one not possessing the key. which is re-
tanned mentally. to avoid all danger. The
key is changed every now and then. and
only one knowing the key and its uses
could. even after long study. manage to
get q message out. That this message Is
clear and without an error is regarded a.
being proof Of its being sent BY Mr.. Con-
ger.
Agree With Secretary Hay.
All Of the Department officials believe
with Secretary Hay that the message Is
genuine, and was sent on July Is BY Mr..
Conger.
The despatch was teiephoned to the Pres
ident as soon as receiZd. No answer came
from Canton during the day.
One Of the cipher experts Of the State
Department said yesterday that II would
have been impossible for anybody in Pekin
outside of Minister Conger and the officials
OF his legation to have written the meg
sage.
Even had the cipher book OF the Ameri-
can Legation been in the possession of
Chinese officials they could not have an
swered Secretary Hays telegram of inqui-
~ to Mr.. Conger without having nrst
devoted considerable time to the study
of the intricate and arbitrary code which
ba INN dipln In