Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-29

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WASHINGTON, June 28.-Mfnister
WI called at the State department this
afternoon and exhibited the following
cablegram to Secretary Hay:
CANTON, June 28.-sThe legation
ministers having left Pekin are now
twelve miles from Tien Tsin with Ad-
miral Seymour.
(Signed) eli HUNG CHANG"
The minister explained that the ca
blegram reached him from the Chinese
minister in London. He believes the
dispatch to be accurate, but the State
department officials are inclined to
doubt it as yet.
WASHINGTON, June 2S.-The days
developments in Chinese affairs were
meagre and the general opinion here
Is that the two messages received-one
from Kempff and the other from Ii
Hung Chang-could not be accepted
as settling the important question as to
the fate of the foreign ministers at
Pekin and their families and attaches.
The Secretary of the Navy, by special
instruction of the President, had been
particular to cable Admiral Kempff
several days ago to keep the Navy De-
partment informed of everything that
happened within the zone of disturb
ance in China, and it is believed that
his omission to make any reference in
his cablegram of this morning to the
Whereabouts of the ministers was bas-
ed on the absence of any information
on that subject at Taku, where the ad-
miral is with his flagship, Newark. And
If no information could be had at Taku,
only thirty miles down the river from
Tien Tsin, of the presence of the min
listers in Admiral Seymour's column,
but eight miles distant, then officials
here cannot understand how any other
government could have superior facil-
tiles. and SO they felt justified in wait
ing for further advices before accept
ing the Chinese statements on that
point as accurate.
Minister WI, who brought Lis mes
sage to the State department, could
not explain away the points of vari-
ance between the viceroy's statements
and the cable messages received from
other sources. However, he pinned his
faith to the accuracy of the message,
and pointed out that it agreed closely
With Admiral Kempf' Message
of yesterday, stating that the ministers
were reported to be with Admiral Sey-
mour.
The navy department has had fur
Their communication with Admiral
Kempff in the shape of two messages,
one touching the strength of the for
eign forces ashore in China, and an
other, which the officials stated had
no bearing upon the military situation,
but in neither was there any mention
of the ministers. One consideration
which makes the unreserved accept
ance by the officials of the assurance
of minor Chinese officials, including
Ii Hung Chang and Minister WI. that
a state of war does not exist, is the
fact that Mr.. Conger is not permitted
to communicate with his own govern
ment by the same means employed by
the Tsung Ii Yamen in getting news
to the outside world, leading to a sus-
picion that he is not at that perfect
liberty which marks the existence of a
state of peace.
1t is possible that the Chinese gov
eminent may be able TO offer a salts
factory explanation or this point, but
at present the officials say that our
future relations with China depend al
together upon what Minister Conger
has to say when he is finally brought
again in touch with the State Depart
ment.
A significant piece of information
furnished by the Navy Department is
the report of the sailing of the Scin-
dia to-day from Gibraltar for Cardiff
for a cargo of Welsh coal, which she
is to carry back to Manila or China.
The ship was on her way from Manila
on the Mediterranean route.
WASHINGTON, June 2s.-Yesterday
the officials here felt sure that the for
eign ministers to China were safe with
Admiral Seymour's column. This
morning that confidence was shaken.
The only official dispatch received over
night from the seat of trouble-one
from Admiral Kempff-was SO barren
OF the information so earnestly de-
manded here as to cause several criti-
cisms at the Admiral's expense.
His dispatch makes no mention OF