The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-11
PRESS ON To PEKIN
THAT IS THE ONLY COURSE NOW
BEFORE THE ALLIES.
UNITED STATES DETERMINED.
MINISTER'S WILL NOT ACCEPT A
CHINESE ESCORT.

Minister ConGer and Those of the
other Powers Have Demanded "a
Foreign Escort and 1t Will Be
Given Them-A Well Guarded Re-
ply Has been Sent to Mr.. Conxer.
China Suing for Peace Through Lii
Hung Chang.
Washington, Aug. 10-In the light of
the latest dispatch from Minister Conger.
received by the State Department through
Minister WI, to-day, the attitude of the
administration is that there is but one
thing to be done in the present circum-
stances-to press on to the relief of the
besieged garrison at Pekin.
This was made known after extended
communications between Washington and
the President, az Canton. The Conger dis
patch was accepted as showing conclu-
sve justification for the imperative de-
mand of the United States sent to the
Chinese government on Wednesday night
insisting that the imperial troops Coop
crate with the international forces in the
rescue of the ministers, and until this
condition, as well as that for the cessa-
tion of bombardment, is fully conceded by
China, there is no other course open but
to press steadily onward in the mission
of relief.
The Cong dispatch was received be
fore daylight at the Chinese legation, and
as soon as the official day opened Minis
ter WI presented it to Acting Secretary
Adee at the state department. 1t was in
the Am can cipher and was found to he
an identical note with that of the other
ministers at Pekin Chat of the French
minister NJ. Pichon, already having ap-
pearsd), with the additional fact that sew
en- memb rs of the guard had been killed
and sixteen wounded.
Reply Sent TO Conger
The discussion with the other officials
led to the determination to reply to the
Conger message at once and accordingly
Secretary Root and Acting Secretary
Adee conferred on the terms of this re-
ply. The text was ready by o'clock, and
it was forwarded late in the day. 1t was
announced officially and positively that
this message would not he made public,
either in whole or in substance. 1t was
made plain, however, that the message
was sufficiently guarced so as not to fur
ther increase the jeopardy of our min er
in case the Chinese have access to our
cipher.
AS to the terms of the message they are
believed to make plain that this govern
ment will not advise much less direct
that Mr.. Conger leave Pekin under Chi
nese escort especially when the minister
has advised Washington that this would
mean certain death.
Moreover the reply doubtfess-lets the
minister know that there is an unaccount-
able error in the statement of the Chinese
government, as conveyed to him through
the ung-liYamen, that the foreign gov
ernments had urged repea tedly that the
ministers be sent out of Pekin under suit
able escort This clause. contained in
MIR. Conger's latest dispatch, clearly
shows that the Chinese government is
leading him to believe that it is the wish
of Washington that he leave under a Chi
nese escort whereas the United States
government never has entertained for
moment the idea of having the minister
set out on the dangerous pilgrimage from
Pekin to the coast, under Chinese protec-
ton.
There is no probability that the atten-
dion of the Chinese government will be
directed to the apparent double meaning
indicated in the Conger dispatch.
Other Powers Notified.
The government has transmitted to the
other Powers interested the note to the
Chinese government entrusted to Minister
Wu on the night of the sth. 1t has as
surances from the other Powers that they
have not advised their representatives to
accept Chinese escort from Pekin.
1t is officially stated at the close of the
day that no further representations have
been made to the Chinese government
since the Adee note of the Sth and that
none will be made until the Chinese gov
ernment has given some indication of the
attitude it will assume in complying with
or denying the demands of the United
States.
While the State Department Is continu-
ing 10 send messages to Minister Conger
upon the assurances of the Chinese gov
ernment that communication is uninter-
rupted it is doing so with comparatively
small hopes of their delivery. This asser-
tion was borne out tonight when Secre-
tary Root said that there was no con-
vincing evidence in possession of this
government that any of our dispatches
really had reached Minister Conger This
indicates that the minister has not given
satisfactory answer to any of the queries
that have been addressed him by the De-
partment of State.