The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-10
A MESSAGE SENT To GONGER
Notified of the Approach of the Relief
CoIumn-Anxiety Over the Situation

Washington, August S.-The Chinese
minister has received a copy of the i'm
perial edict of August2nd W hich was
delayed in transmission 1t directs the
safe conduct of the foreigners to Tien
Tsin and assigns Jung Lu to select eff
cient officials to give this safe con-
duct.
The text of the edict of August End
is as follows:
Throughout the disturbances re-
Gently caused by our subjects on ac-
count of Christian missions, which
have resulted in a conflict of forces, it
has been found necessary to afford
protection to all foreign ministers in
Pekin. On repeated occasions the
Tsung Lii Yamen sent notes inquiring
after their welfare; and as Pekin has
not yet been restored to order, and
precautionary measures may not Sc
cure absolute safety, the foreign min
listers are being consulted as to the
proposed plan of detailing troops 20
escort them safely to Tien Tsin for
temporary shelter. so that they might
be free from apprehension or fear.
I'VE hereby command Jung Lu to ap-
point, as a preliminary step, truStwor-
thy military officials. who, together
with reliable and efficient troops, shall,
at such time as the foreign ministers
may agree upon for leaving rekin, es-
cort and protect them throughout their
journey. Should lawless characters
manifest evil designs upon the minis
ters or attempt to rob them or in any
way create trouble, they (the high Off
cials) shall at once repress them with
out fail"
Mr.. Wu has also received an edict
under date of August 5th in which the
Chinese government permits the pow
erS to hold open and free communica-
ton with their ministers. This in
cludeS the sending of cipher messages
A reply has been sent to Minister
Conger by the state department to the
message received from him late yes
terday. 1t advises him of the approach
of the relief column and exhorts him
to be of good cheer. The dispatch was
sent direct to Minister Conger at Pekin
and a duplicate of it to Consul Gen
era1 Goodnow at Shanghai. Goodnow
was directed to spare no pains or eX-
pense to get the message to Minister
Conger- The message is in cipher and
intended to test the assertion of the
Chinese edict that free cipher COM
munication would be allowed.
Acting Secretary Adee received a ca
bic message this morning from Consul
| General Goodnow at Shanghai giving
the l test information in his posses
| sion in regard to the situation in China
including the operations of the allied
! forces engaged in the advance on Pc
/ kin. 1t was referred to the secretary
| of war and was not made public.
The critical situation developed here
today by the receipt Of the Congel
| message gave rise to a number of ru
| mors of renewed military activity. Il
can be stated on the authority of The
| secretary of war that no actual step:
| have been taken. but it is understood
| that acting on a precautionary mes
| sage, addressed him some time ago
| General Macarthur has so arranged
| matters in LuZon as to have a con
| siderable body of troops on which h,
| can draw in an emergency SHOULD
| there be a sudden and imperative neeC
| to send them to reinforce 49, inter
| national column in China.