Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-07-23
FOR CONGER'S RELEASE
Rumorcd Demand on MIR. WI
by Secretary Hay.
AMERICA ASKED TO MEDIATE.
Formal Request From Emperor For
President to Use His Good Offices
With Powers For Restoration OF
Order Received mt Washington,

Washington, July 23.-With the ex-
ception of the brief dispatch from Ad-
miral Kempff announcing that the New
ark was going to Nagasaki there has
been nothing received in Washington by
the state or navy department regarding
China. This is also true of the Chinese
legation, Minister WI saying after din
ner last night that he had not word
from his country. The latter continues
extremely optimistic of the safety of the
legations in Peking and hopes that the
dispatch, from Minister Conger received
here Friday is but the precursor of more
detailed information of still brighter
character from the Chinese capital
Many of his callers inquired of him about
the report that China had asked the
United States government to exercise its
good offices for his country in the present
crisis, but he declined positively to make
any statement on the subject.
AT the Japanese legation, which has
been source of much of the news which
has recently come from China, the officials
also We're without advices. Nothing has
been heard at the legation of the report
published in the American newspapers
that the Japanese government is about to
dispatch n second division of troops from
Yokohama for Chinese territory
When Secretary Hay received the Con
ger dispatch on Friday, he promptly tele-
graphed the fact to our ambassadors and
ministers abroad, coupling it with in
structions to lay it before the respective
governments to which they are accredit-
ed and to urge upon them the necessity
for cooperation for the relief of the for
eigners in Peking. Several replies have
been received at the state department in
rsponse to the secretary's dispatch, but
they are withheld from publication for
the present. The officials here will abate
none of the efforts now making to obtain
more definite news and to push forward
the relief column on its way to the Chi
nese capital.
Up to a late hour last night nothing
had been heard from Major General
Chaffee, who is to command the Ameri-
can forces in China and whose arrival at
Nagasaki is hourly expected.
Congcr's Release Demanded.
rumor obtained circulation late last
night that Secretary Hay had notified
Minister WI that this government, in
view of the assurances received from
the Chinese authorities of the safety of
our legation in Peking would expect the
Chinese government to deliver Mr.. Con
ger and his staff safe into the hands of
Admiral Remey within period limited
to the time necessary for the journey from
the capital to the seaboard.
Mr.. Hays argument, according to the
story in circulation, was that the Chi
nese government could give no better evil
dence of its good intentions, which, the
secretary impressed upon Mr.. WI, had
not been questioned by the state depart
ment, than by such action. 1t would,
furthermore, thereby establish title to
the good offices which it had asked for
from the United States.
AT the hour at which the report OBJ
tanned circulation it was impossible Ell
ther to ascertain the source from which
it had sprung or control its accuracy.
In one quarter where inquiries were
made it was stated that Minister Wu
was himself the originator OF the plan to
convey Minister Conger, his family and
the staff of the legation to the coast.
The report published yesterday that
an appeal had been received by the Unit
ed States government from China is con
firmed by dispatches from both Wash
ington and Canton, where President Nc
kinley is stopping
What exactly Is the character of the
message Is not definitely known. Wash
ington reports that the Chinese govern
ment has appealed to the United States
ito mediate with the other powers to
bring about the restoration of order and
the renewal of regular diplomatic rela-
tons" Secretary Hay, however has
given out no information on the subject.
a telegram from Canton states that the
appeal was made to the president per-
sonally.
No reply has vet been made, but pur-
suant to its policy of acting upon the
ground that the Chinese government has
not been proved responsible for what
ever may have happened in the Middle
Kingdom and that consequently its rea-
tions with the United States are still
friendly the state department will, 1t Is
stated. assure Minister WI OF Its beney-
olent intentions.
Massacre Again Reported,
A report of the massacre of the for
eigners In Peking has reached New
chwang. A Chnaman who has arrived
there and who processes to have been n
servant of European in Peking states
that he left the capital on July IL, on
which date the envoys,were or had been
murdered.
On the other hand, there is a new sheaf
of Chinese assurance that the legations
are still safe. Yuan Sh Kai, according
to one dispatch, now declares that "the
authorities are devising means for the
rescue and protection of the legations"
Other advices represented the same Off
ciaI as wiring the British consul at Chefu
that the legations had been attacked, but
were safe on July II.
Assurances of the safety of the foreign
ENJOYS were also given in London by at
taches of the Chinese legation there. Sir
Halliday Mccartney even went to the
length of declaring that a message might
be expected at any moment from Sir
Claude Macdonald and other ministers
in Peking-that in a word, the cipher
dispatch from Mr.. Conger was the first
of series. A similar communication
was made to the French government.
In this connection it is to be noted that
Shanghai correspondent, in special
dispatch published in this mornings Her
aid, puts the date ut which Mr.. Conger's
message was written as June 30. Wash
,.fk k,tals thA nti, -