The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-08-09
YERYsGRAVEa

Is the Situation in China-Cabinet
Busy Consu1ting-Forma1 Demand
Made-Imperirl Edict Giving Free
Communication to Ministers Deliv-
cred by WI. -
WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-The Chi
ncse situation is considered very grave
by the authorities In Washington. The
receipt OF the message from Minister
Congcr last night. which indicated a
continuation Of the firing upon the
lcgatloncrs. and the Chinese govern
men,'s insistence that the ministers
should leave Pekin. which Mr.. Conger
considered would mean certain death,
brought matters to an acute stage. All
day the cabinet officers who are In town
have been consulting with each other
and the President has been communi
Gated with by telegraph and over the
long distance telephone. Secretary
Root held two conferences with Attor-
ney General Griggs and severa. with
Acting Secretary, OF State Adee and
their views were communicated to the
President. AS result of these consul
tations, 1t was announced officially at
the close Of the day that q message to
the imperial government at Pekin had
been delivered to Minister WI for
transmIssion to his government.
Text Not to be Made Public.
The text Of the message was prepared
by ActIns Secretary Of State Adee and
Secretary Root and In Its final form
was made known to the President in a
talk conducted by Mr.. Root over the
white house long distance telephone. 1t
was then stated definitely that the au-
thor!ties OF this government would not
make public the text OF this latest COM
mun!catlon TO China TIL Minister WI
had had opportunityto forward It to his
government. The chief officials OF the
government were not willing to outline
In any definite manner the contents Of
the message, although 1t was generally
expected that the communication was
emphatic and to the point.
The state department sent n cipher
cable message to Minister congcr, re-
sponslvc to his message made public
last night and intended to test the as
serilon Of the Chinese edlct that free
cipher communication would be allow
cd.
The message sent to the Chinese gov
efhmcnt through Mr.. WI, according to
the best information obtainable. In
forms that government that the re-
moval OF the restrictions upon commu-
hication with our minister, evidenced
poth by the receipt OF Mr.. Conger's
message and the transmission OF the
edict OF the NTH. Is highly gratifying,
nut is not an entire compliance with the
original demands OF the President IN
MS reply to the appeal for mediation.
The Three Conditions.
The President In his original commu-
nicauon to the emperor OF China, laid
down three conditions precedent to any
ac''8h looking to negotiations for tho
settlement OF tho difficulties between
Ihinn and the powers. These condl-
uons. In tho Prcsldents own words.
were hs follows: las- ~
Il most soiemnly urge upon your ma
'e"'y's government to give public nssur-
ahce whether the foreign ministers are
a'i2e and II No in what condition.
ITO put the diplomatic represent
tatyes of the powers IN immediate and
itec communication with their rcspsc-
1--WE governments and to remove all
onnsers to their lives and liberty.
ITO place tho imperial authorities