Evening journal., 1900-08-04
Fowler Says First COnger Dis
patch Was Genuine
GERMANY DENIES JEALOUSY
Foreign Office Official Says Germans
Will Applaud Successes Achieved
by Others

Washington, Aug. 4.-Another move
was made yesterday in the diplomatic
situation by the return Of an evasive
answer by LII Hung Chang to Secretary
Hays peremptory demand of Aug.
to be put in communication with the
foreign ministers at Pelkin. Lis an
swer is not final and leaves the matter
open automatically. But LIS actions,
as reported by Consul General Good
now, are unquestionably sinister and
will amount TO a final rejection of the
American proposition. If persisted in.
Mr.. .Goodnows dispatch contains some
further information bearing on the
question of responsibility for Pekin
conditions in the statement that the
commander of the Chinese troops, by
inference answerable to the Chinese
government, ordered the Paoting mas
sacre. Il is learned here that Li-Ping-
Hong, the commander referred TO, is a
civil official. and well known to all the
Chinese officials abroad as one Of the
most rabld anti foreign leaders in
China. He is q close friend Of Prince
Tuan and the association OF these two
in Pekin affairs. with power enough
behind them to cause the ignominious
death Of two high officials, is regarded
as a bad sign.
simultaneously with Mr.. Goodnow's
dispatch came a characteristically Dip
lomatic message from Yuan Shih Kai,
governor of Shan Tung, repeating the
story that the Chinese government was
arranging to deliver the ministers in
safety in Tien Tsin. NO effort is made
to reconcile that statement with Earl
LIS refusal to allow communication
with the ministers.
A message from Consul Fowler, at
Chefoo, declares that the first Conger
dispatch, in which he asserted that the
members of the American legation had
been besieged in the British legation
for3d month, was genuine. Mr.. Fowler
sent a secret messenger to Pekin, who
brought back an answer with Minister
Congers signature.
Gen. Chaffee's message as to the un-
expected resistance offered to the Jap
anese reconnaissance is regarded by
military men here as forecasting a
greater degree Of opposition to the in
ternational advance than had been an
ticipated, and they are now satisfied
that the Chinese troops will furnish
material for at least one severe battle
before the way is clear to Pelkin.
The navy department yesterday is
sued an order for the cooperation of
its officers abroad with the officers of
the army landing and transporting
troops destined for Chinese service.
It is thought in the department that
the navy can lend considerable assist
ance to Gen. Chaffee's troops.'
1t appears that some misunderstand-
ing exists as to st. Petersburg dis
patch saying that the Chinese minister
there, and his colleagues in Europe,
had cabled the governor of Shan Tung
demanding that free communication
be opened between the Pelin minis
ters and their respective governments.
This communication was in fact a
joint memorial to the throne concur
red in by all Chinese ministers abroad,
including Minister WI in Washington.
II was forwarded by Minister Yeng LII
at st. Petersburg, because the latter is
the dean Of the Chinese diplomatic
service This action is considered
very important as indicating that the
Chinese ministers abroad have at least
reached a unanimous conclusion that
the situation is no longer to be trified
with.
meanwhile the government of the
United States, like the governments of
Europe, has not abandoned its Efforts
to establish communication with ils
minister az Pekin by independent
means, and the state department has
instructed Consul General Goodnow al
Shanghai, Consul Fowler at Chefoo
and Consul Ragsdale at Tien Tsin Ia
spare no effort or expense to omen IN
direct communication with Mr.. Con-
ger
In addition 70 his short message
relative to the Japanese check. trans
mitted through Admiral Remey. Gen.
Chaffee made another and a direct
cable report in the afternoon. The
message was withheld from publica-
tion by Secretary Root. who declined
to make its purport public. II wss
presumably devoted to 4 recital of
Gens chadee's needs in a military vay,
In view Of the London statement that
thftdyance on Pekin actually began
wi4 the present week, there is also a