The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-26
CONCERTS APPEAL FOR AID.


position by that. these men contend, and
the Chinese are too willy to be caught in
any such trap of their own devising. Sum
ming up opinions gathered from officials
in regard to the effect Of the genuine Con-
ger message of July 4, received by Captain
Thomas, on the message dated July is, pur-
porting to have been written by the Amer
lean Minister, the prevailing views may be
said to be these:
The July IS message may have been an
old one. prepared on July 4, by Mr.. Con-
ger on the basis Of his longer message to
the Consul at Tientsin, which fell into
the hands Of the Chinese, and was for
warded by them an answer to Secretary
HAYS enquiry; there is nothing In the
message dated July IS that was not con-
tanned in the authentic message OF July 4,
this indicating they were written about the
same time With these views are coupled
the following reservations expressed IN
the form of questions: Is it likely that
the Chinese would have cent an Old mes
sage on the chance that it answered Sec
retary Hays telegram Of July II? Would
the Chinese authorities have transmitted
despatch that contained 4 call for help
and said that Chinese troops were attack
ing the British Legation? In word, the
officials do not know, and they are just as
much mixed in their ideas as the other peo-
BesieGed Two Weeks.
Surprise was expressed yesterday over
Mr.. Conger's statement that on July the
British Legation had been besieged for two
weeks That would mean that the attack
on the foreigners began on June 81. Later,
however. it was recalled that SIR Robert
Harris couriers had brought word that the
attacks had begun about the time men
toned, so that MIR. Conger's message really
adds nothing to previous information IN
that connection.
Minister WI was pleased to hear that
another despatch had been received from
Minister Conger, even if it was dated as FAR
back as July 4. Although it seemed i'm
! probable that Mr. Conger would have sent
/ a despatch on July IS almost similar to
| that sent on July 4, which has just reached
( Tientsin Mr.. WI does not doubt the au-
| thenticity of the alleged despatch OF the
! later date. On the contrary, he pointed
out yesterday mornini; that Wen jim, I'm
! der Secretary of the Tsung-li- famen had
visited the legations on July Is and 1t was
/ on that occasion doubtless, that the mes
! sage from Secretary Hay to Minister Con-
Z
/ ceived.
! 1t is also presumed that Wen jim spoke
| of the chances of mediation while on this
visit to the beleaguered Ministers. Mr..
WI said he knew Wen jim and General
/ Yung Lu and had confidence in their hon
esty He thought the Conger despatch
! and the MacArtney telegram confirmed
I the impression that the legations were
J still safe and about to start under escort
for Tientsin.
Second Message to Conger.
! It was officially admitted yesterday for
the first time, although somewhat Ie-
luctantly, that a second attempt to COM
! municate with Minister Conger through
Chinese sources was being made. Secre-
. tary Hays second message of enquiry
was transmitted to Shanghai through
| Minister WI Ting-fang on Sunday last.
I II was Just nine days between the time
Secretary Hay handed Minister WI his
first telegram to Mr.. CoRger and the re-
ceipt here of the answer purporting to
have come from the American represen-
tatlve in Pekin, so that il this period be
used as a basis of calculation an answer
to the second message may be expected
on next Tuesday, July 81,
AS to the character of Secretary Hays
, second message addressed to Mr.. CongeI
no official information is obtatnable, eX-
cent that it vas in cipher, but it Is inti-
mated that it provided for an arrangement
by which the authenticity or the spurious
ness of the answer could be determined
One suggestion is that it vas sent in the
complexion of a naval cipher. Lieutenant
Key, the naval attache Of the American
Iegation In Pekin, is at Tokyo, but II he
left his cipher book in Pekin there may
be some official OF the American Legation
who will be able to use it intelligibly.
From what officials of the Government
said Yesterday 1t is evident that there
would be no disposition 10 accept, II ii
were made formally the proposition at
tributed TO General Jung Lu, CHINESE
commander at Pekin, TO send the foreign
Ministers to Tientsin under Chinese pro-
lection The only Information that the
State Department has on the subject is
/ contained In the despatch received by Mr.
WI Tuesday which said that Jung LII
proposed to memorabilia the throne at onct
I to provide means for sending the Ministers
/ TO Tlentsin. This Government, 1t is as
serted by officials. intends to accept Nc
propositions from the Chinese until they
have complied with President Mckinley:
condition that Minister Conger and the
other representatives at PekiD be PLACED
in full and free communication with theil
Governments. Even when that much ha!
been accomplished. a proposition to senc
the Ministers TO Tientsin would not be &C
cepted by the United States unless Mr.
Conger thought It wise to DO SO.