Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-07-09
C0NGER'S LAST REPORT
Mall From China Brings Letter
Dated May II.
MINISTER MAY NOW BE DEAD.
He Describes the Situation at Pc
king Mt beginning of the Revolt
and Tells of His Attempts to Avert
the Trouble.

the Trouble.
Washington, July 9.-The last China
mail to reach the state department
brought the report of Minister Conger,
perhaps the last that will ever come to
hand. This bears date of Peking, May
Il. 1t Is of the utmost Importance, dis
closing as It does full comprehension on
the part of the foreign ministers in Pc
king Of the character and extent of the
Boxer uprising, even though Mr.. Conger
himself by disposition optimistic found
some reason to hope that the worst was
over at that date.
What Mr.. Conger has to say as to the
attitude of the Chinese government to-
ward the Boxer movement as revealed in
the formal interchange that took place
between himself and the tsung-li-yamen
is not only of peculiar interest now, but
probably will have n strong bearing ON
the final reckoning that must be had be-
tween the civilized nations and the Chi
nese.
The letter of Minister Conger reads as
follows:
"Sir-I have the honor to confirm on
the overleaf my cipher telegram of today.
"1n response to the request OF the
iSh'h the ueuH CullPu uleel-
Ing of the diplomatic corps yesterday,
and upon information furnished In let
ter from the Catholic bishop in Peking
and verbal reports by the other minis
ters the situation was considered so
grave that the corps unanimously in-
structed the dean to present it to the
tsung-li-yamen and demand immediate
and effective measures, which he did to-
day by the note, copy of which Is in
closed.
Il also inclose copies of the bishops
letter and one from Rev. Mr.. Killie, an
American missionary who lives in Pc
king, but travels circuit to the north
and east
Interview with Tsung-li-yamen.
"On the 18th inst, during nm extend
ed personal interview with the tsung-li-
yamen, / called their attention to the
fact that, Notwithstanding constant
warnings from this and other legations,
the Boxers had continually increased and
spread until now they are boldly Or
ganizing inside the wall Of Peking, the
existence of thousands is known In the
villages around Peking Christian con-
verts are being prosecuted and threaten
ed everywhere, many forced to recant
their religious professions, and some have
been compelled to abandon their chapels
and come to Peking for safety.
II said: AT London mission near
Chou-chow, 40 miles west of Peking, two
native Christians have been killed and
their chapel destroyed. Near PaotIng-
fu a Catholic village has been destroyed
and 81 Christians murdered, some of
them being burned alive. The foreign gov
ernments cannot longer sit idly by and
witness this persecution and murder.
can only speak for my own government,
but 1t is becoming very impatient over
China's continued treaty violation. 1t
always has been and still Is the good
friend of China and only wishes 1t pros
perity, but is now more than ever deter
mined to sustain the treaty rights of all
American citizens and of the Christian
converts, and 1t will hold the Chinese
government to the strictest responsibility
for every treaty infraction in this regard.
1t will do this not only for the benefit of
its own citizens, but In the interest of
China herself, whose government is now
sadly threatened by these lawless organ
izations. At present, it is true, they
seem to have no capable leader, but
should one arise and the populace become
really inflamed the overthrow OF the
and possibly the destruction Of the en-
pire,' etc.
"They replied that / did not under
stand the many difficulties under which
they labored, but they had succeeded in
suppressing the Boxers in the province Of
Shangtung and would do so here.
~ told them l saw no effective meas
ures whatever being put forth. They re-
piled that the movement had not hereto
fore been looked upon seriously, but that
now the throne was fully aware OF the
gravity of the situation and that recent
confidential decree had been sent to the
viceroy, the Peking and neighboring Off
cials which would surely prove effective,
suppress the Boxers and restore order.
A Chinese Blur.
81 told them that the most alarming
kilograms were being sent to the newspa-
pers of Europe and America of the exist
ing state Of anarchy here and that the
people of the world would be forced to
believe that the government Of China
was either abetting these murderous brig
ands or that 1t was too weak to suppress
or control them, and its good name and
credit must suffer irretrievably In conse-
Quence. After reading me the decree,
which was much like those heretofore
published, they asked If would not wire
my government that they could and were
suppressing the Boxers.
II replied that at present / would not;
that had been for six months telegraph
ing the issuance of ineffective DEGREES,
but IL they would show me the fact by
actual and immediate repression, which
they could il they would, In three days l
would gladly and quickly wire 1t to my
government.
"They assured me that sufficient troops
had been sent to the disturbed districts to
restore order and afford protection.
II again told them that restored order
would be the only possible proof. also
said that unless the situation was reliev-
ed and the threatening danger from mobs
averted I should be compelled to ask for
a sufficient guard of American marines to
insure the safety of the legation.
"They said: oh, don't do that! 1t is
unnecessary And again promising en-
ergetic action the interview closed.
"Unless some energetic action is taken