The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1900-08-03
READY TO DROP CHINA
State Department Losing Faith in InfOr-
nation Furnished by WI.
CIPHER DISPATCH NOW DOUBTED
British Government Calls Attention to
Several Suspicious Circumstances - u.
8. Refuses to Make Cong er's Safe Re-
turn Matter for Diplomatic Barter.

WASHINGTON, July 2S.-Unless
some authentic assurance as to the
condition Of the Americans in Pekin
reaches the state department within a
day or two the administration is like
ly to abandon whatever faith it has
manifested thus far in the truthfulness
of Chinese information. Inc Chinese
minister is confident that within that
time there will be news from Pekin Of
q character to satisfy the most skep-
tical as to its accuracy, and he is also
confident that this will be good news
from the American point Of view.
The state department is still recep-
tive, though looking with growing
GOODNESS on the numerous edicts and
kilograms which are coming from
China, all without bringing any news.
The contributions Of the day were from
Consul General Goodnow at Shanghai
and Consul Fowler at Che Foo. So
much Of their messages Is was given
Tout for publication related to the well
fare of certain missionaries who have
been made the subject of inquiry by
relatives in this country. The cables
mangled these messages and there is
reason TO doubt the value of the infor-
nation attempted to be conveyed
through them.
Mr.. Goodnow also had something to
Say about the political situation and
it is believed that that part of his mes
sage was not of an encouraging char
acter. At any rate, it was withheld
from the press, probably because the
government did not deem it prudent
to give it the stamp of apparent ap-
proVal.
Ever since the receipt at Tien Tsin
of the autograph message from Minis
ter Conger. dated Pekin, July 4, state
department officials have had grave
doubts as TO the authenticity OF the
cipher message attributed 20 him,
dated Pekin, July IS. There have been
many little side lights on this message
that afford ground for suspicion, end
now the British authorities have added
their quota to the growing distrust
of things Chinese. 1t seems that Mr..
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 Tung. told him
(Sheng) that q message had passed
through to the United States from Mr..
Conger Oh the 18th of July telling of
the condition at the British legation.
This cipher dispatch was faxed" by
Chinese officials.
1t is pointed out at the state de-
partment, however, that there are
PLAUSIBLE explanations of this curious
fact which tend to show the authentici-
ty of the cipher dispatch. Secretary
Hay cabled to Mr.. Conger that he
might have implicit faith in the person
who brought the dispatch to him. Mr..
Conger, therefore, had a right to trust
the man, and possibly ne told him in
a general way the contents of the dis
patch in case the messenger should
be Obliged to detroy it to insure his
own safety. However that may be, the
British government has thought Mr..
Warren's report worth the attention
of our government.
The state department officials do not
like the European criticism more or
less attributing to our government a
lack of wholc-heartedness in the effort
< get to Pekin. They point to what
the American troops and marines have
already done, to the loss of life and
limbs suffered by them and to the re-
peated urgings Of the American otfl-
Gals at every point looking II a for
ward movement at Pekin.