Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-28
THE SITUATION is SERIOUS
Growing Distrust of Reliability Secretary
of State Hay, Fresh From u Confer
cnce With the President, Says the Chi
nesc Proposition to Turn Over Ministers
TO Save Pekin VIII be Declined The
Massacre of missionaries Continues :
beginning of the Advance.
(By Telegraph to virginlnn.Pilotl

some authentic assurance as to the con-
dition of the Americans in Pekin
reaches the State Department within II
day or two. the administration is likely
TO abandon whatever faith ii has mani
rested thus far in the truthfulness OF
Chinese information. The Chinese min
lister is confident that within that time
there will be news from Pekin of n
character to satisfy the most skeptical
as TO its accuracy, and he also is conf
dent that this will be good news from
the American point of view. The State
Department is still receptive, though
looking with growing coldness upon the
numerous edicts and kilograms which
are coming from China, all without
bringing any news.
NEWS OF THE DAY.
The contributions of the day were
from Consul-General Goodnow at Shan
Shai and Consul Fowler at Che Foo
NO much of their messages as was
gwen out for publication related to
the welfare of certain American mis-
SionarieS who have been made the SUBJ
tect of inquiry by relatives in this
country The cables mangicd these
messages and there IS reason TO doubt
the value OF the Information attempted
10 be conveyed through them
MIR. Goodnow also had something to
say about the political situation. and
II is believed that part of his message
was not of an encouraging chara CT er.
AT any rate 1t was withheld from the
press probably because the department
did not regard II as wise to give the
stamp of its approval to matters which
MIR. Goodnow wishes to be taken III n
purely speculative sense.
MINISTER CONCERTS MESSAGE.
Ever since the receipt Mt Tien Tsin
OF the autograph message from Mr.
Conger. dated July ith. state Depart
ment officials have had grave doubts
as to the authenticity OF the cipher
incssage attributed to him, dated Pc
kin. July 18th. There have hcen many
little side lights on this message that
ahord ground for suspicion. and now
the British authorities have added
their quota to the growing diS,rust of
things Chinese. Ii seems that "A AIR.
Warren, at present acting as British
Consul at Shanghai. has been told BY
Sheng, the famous Chinese Director OF
Posts and Telegraphs. that Yuan, the
Governor OF Shan TunE. told him
(Shcng) that message had passed
through to the United states from MIR.
conger on the 18th of July. telling of
the conditions at the British legation.
This fact is cited as coniirmatory of
these suspicious that the cipher dis
u is pointed out at the State Depart
ment. however. that there are plausi-
bic explanations Of this curious fact
which tend 10 show the authenticity of
the cipher dispatch. Secretary Hay
cabled Mr. Conger that lie might have
implicit faith in the person who
brought the disratch To him. MIR.
Conger therefore had right to trust
the man, and possibly he told him In
n general way the contents OF the dis
>sl,A
be Obliged to destroy it to insure his
own safety. However that may be the
British Government has thought Mr..
Warren's report worthy the attention
of our Government.
IL is the earnest desire of this Cow
eminent that the forward movement
on PeiSin be made at the earliest pos
S!bie moment.
OUR GOVERNMENT DECLINES.
Washington. July 27.-Secretary Hay
signali:cd his return to Washington
from Canton this morning by the an
nouncement that not under any circum-
stances will the United States Govern
ment accept an offer from the Chinese
to turn over the foreign ministers TO
the intcrnationals at Tien Tsin in con-
sideration of Il suspension of the cam
paign against Peltin. y long cable
gram was dispatched to-day 10 Rear
Admiral Remey az Taku. and it is be-
lieved that this instruction was laid
upon him.
Secretary Hays decision to decline
the Chinese proposition was based
upon his determination to adhere
strictly to the conditions laid down In
the reply TO the Chinese Emperor's APP
peal. The State Department required
that the ministers at Pekin be put in
communication with their Governments
and the most significant condition of
all-that the Chinese authorities CO.
operate with the relief expedition for
the liberation OF the legations. Until
these two things are done. the State
Department absolutely refuses to be
led into any arrangement looking to
the mitigation of the punishment OF
the Chinese Government, such as the
abandonment Of the expedition at Pc
kin.
MR.. HAYS OBJECT.
The intimation was given that the
purpose of Secretary Hays decision
was to head off formal propositions, as
the department has been made aware
by Mr.. Goodnow and by Adj
miral Remey. 1t Is presumed.
that suggestions OF this sort had
been thrown out by the Chinese
Viceroys or their agents. though this
had not been reduced TO an official
form. The department rather strength
ened it's position through being enabled
in this way TO reject the proposition by
anticipation. 1t was pointed out that
even should the other Powers agree to
any such proposition we would not con-
slider II until Minister Conger's views
were known. 1t Is explained that to
agreo to such plan might result in
sending the ministers forward with an