The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-21

The State Department today received the
first report from Minister Conger since the
relief OF Pekin and the end of the siege
of the legations Only portion of the
message was made public. as, it is stated,
The balance of the despatch so powerfully
declares against the Imperial Chinese Gov
ernment that it would net be policy 10
make it public. The message states that
on the night previous to the relief of the
city a desperate attempt was made to ex-
terminate the little party defending the
Legations. \ large anlounr Of very lmpof-
tant evidence declaring a state Of war to
exist in China, has been suppressed. The
portion of the message given out is con
tained in the following bulletin:
The Department of State makes pub
lie the following extracts from tele-
gram received last night from Min
ister ConEer;
United States Legation,
"Pekin ,undated),
Via Chefoo, Aug. 90
"(Recefved $50 p. m.)
Secretary of State. Washington:
Saved. Relief arrived today En-
tered city with little trouble. Do not
yet know where Imperial family is.
Except deaths already reported, all
Americans alive and we'll. Desperate
effort made last night to exterminate
US, Mitchell, American sailor. and a
man killed.
Advise Woodward, Chicago; Con-
ger. Des Moines; Sims Council Bluffs;
Conger, Pasadena; Porter. Paris
"CONGER. by Fowler, ,Chefoo 20th''
It is supposed at the State Department
that the message was written on August
Is. the day on which the allies entered Pc
kin The balance OF the message is a long
record of reaehery and fendish attempts
to crush and murder the little band Of for
eigners. How far the document Will force
the American Government to take action
cannot yet be known.
The persons mentioned by Mr.. Conger
to be advised of his safety are relatives
and friends. The message has brought
better feeling to the Government officials
ard there is no longer any suspense.
Imperial Government Responsible.
It was stated by a State Department
official that the Conger report was by no
means complete nor final and that full
recital is expected before long The con-
tents of the message received. however.
are Of such a nature as 10 have impressed
forcibly upon the Government the fact
that the Chinese authorities were re-
sponsible for the sheIling of the legations
and the vicious attempts made to murder
the inmates.
The report has brought a new phase
into the situation, as Ar Conger's state |
ments announce clearly that a state of war
did exist in China and that the Imperial
troops, under the Government, directed
all operations against the diplomatic rep
resentatives of the foreign powers in Pc
kin, and despite the protests of the min
listers continued to attempt to murder
them until beaten back by the arrival of
the allied forces. No word is said about
the Boxers as an element in the siege. and
it is not thought that the latter force
had any hand in the persecution of the
foreigners within the city of Pekin. but
confined their operations to points outside
the walls
The Situation Complicated.
Immediately after the receipt of the Con-
ger report it was brought to the White
House and was carefully gone over at the |
Cabinet conference. 1t is understood that
the despatch will carry much weight in |
the matter of pending declaration of |
hostilitics against the Celestial Empire.
The situation is today the most absurd |
and complicated in the history of dipIo- |
macy" said an official of the State Depart |
ment today. we Go not know whether we |
are at war with China or not We are ar |
tually at war and yet we are technically |
Racing Today at Upper MarIboro
Round trip, 40 cents, via Chesapeake Beach Rx |
SIT To Chicago and Return Win n
a o. II