The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-06
AWAITING A REPLY
HAYS DEMAND FOR COMMUNICA-
TI0N WITH MINISTER'S.
NO SATISFACTORY ANSWER
RELATED DISPATCH PROM CONGER
ASKS FOR RELIEF.

patches Not Allowed to Pass, and
Even Plain Messages Have Been
Turned DOwn-Chaffee Is Meeting
Many DificuIties-No Credence in
Report of Earl Lis Suicide.
Washington, Aug. 5.--A belated dispatch
from Minister Conger was received to-day
at the State Department. 1t came through
Consul General Goodnow at Shanghai, who
transmitted messages received by Mr..
Ragsdale. United States consul at Tien
Tsin. from Mr.. Conger and Mr. Squiers,
secretary of the United States legation at
Pekin.
In effect the advices are the same as
those received a day or two ago by the
State Department from Consul Fowler, at
Che Foo. Mr.. Goodnow's message was
transmitted to President Mckinley at Can
ton, and Mr.. Adee, acting secretary of
state, alter in the day issued the following
statement concerning it:
Consul General Goodnow, in cable
gram dated Shanghai, Aug. 5, which was
received at the Department of State at
o'clock this Sunday morning, reports
the receipt by Consul Ragsdale at Tien
Tsin, of messages from Minister Conger
and the secretary of the legation, Mr.
Squiers, dated July 81 to the following
effoct:
All well. No fighting since the 10th by
agreement. Enough provisions. Hope for
speedy relief
Mr.. Goodnow adds that the director of
posts, Sheng. haC on the 9TH communi-
Gated to him an imperial edict dated July
30. ordering Jung Lu to provide an escort
for the ministers to Tien Tsin when the
ministers fix the date. The edict says
the ministers can receive messages not
in cipher but notwiths landing this, plain
messages were returned to some consuls
on Aug. A."
Belief That They Are Safe.
While the messages from Minister Con-
ger and Secretary Squiers bear date of
July p, the belief, founded not only upon
them, but also upon collateral and later
information, is that the legationers are
yet safe from at least immediate harm.
AT present there is no means of knowing
whether the ministers WIZ 5ccept the Of
fer of the Chinese imperial government
to provide an escort for them to Tisn
Tsin. but it is surmised they will prefer
to remain within the British legation at
Pekin until the arrival of the allied forces.
Should they leave for Tien Tsin, in all
proba bihty it would be because they re-
gard 1t the safer course to pursue. 1t is
thought to be not unlikely that the Chi
nese government may be very insistent
upon the departure of the ministers, in
the hope. if they can be gotten to Tien
Tsin safely, the storming of Pekin may
be averted.
The inhibition of cipher dispatches to
the ministers while a serious breach of
diplomatic usage, is not regarded here
with apprehension. The Chinese govern
ment, il is pointed out, is suspicious of the
actions of the Powers and probably has
adopted this precaution to prevent COM
munication to the ministers of details of
military movement. 1t is evident from the
adoption of this measure that the imperial
government regards itself as antagonistic
10, il not actually at war with the Powers.
Thus far, no inhibition has been placed
upon cipher dispatches passing between
the various governments and their consul
lar representatives in China outside of Pc
kin.
Definite Reply Awaited.
The State Department has taken the
li-Yamen, delivered at the department yes
terday by Minister WI. is not an answer
to the dispatch of Secretary Hay sent on
Aug. /. In that dispatch Secretary Hay
finally and decisively insisted that free
communication with the ministers must be
established before any steps would be TAX
en- by this government toward a peaceful
solution of the present trouble This dis
patch was sent to Consul General Good
hui HI fFaf1 tod 4 IInF
Chang. The message delivered by Min
lister Wu 10 the State Department yester-
day relative 10 The inhibition of cipher dis
pa tches, was sent by the Tsung- g-li- Yamen
on July 30 AS of that date, it already
had been communica ted to the department
by Consul Fowler. Obviously. therefore,
it could not be a reply to the dispatch
sent TO Mr.. Goodnow by Secretary Hay of
Aug. l.
patch of the 1st instant is awaited with
some concern, not 90 say anxiety. 1t is
the final word of the United States gov
eminent in the pending negotiations. The
demand must be acceded TO, If trouble Of
serious character is to be averted.
Minister WI is not in the city to-day,
having gone 10 Cape May 10 pass Sunday
with his family. 1t was said al the
Chinese legation that he will probably re-
turn 10 NdSHiilS LOi AO-lACiAONs ANO NiS~
patches of coDsequence were received at
the Legation to-day, and il is said by the
legation attaches, no message will be
made public from the legation in the abb
sence of the minister, unless messages
should come which, by reason Of their i'm
portance should require immediate trans
mission to the State Department.
Chanee's Difficulties.
Neither the war nor the navy depart
ment made public any dispatches dEring
the dav. officials of both departments an
nouncing that no dispatches Of public In
terest had been received. That Gen. Chat
fee is encountering difficulties that are
nroving serious. there Is little attempt to
eonceal. The debarkaton of troops and
cavalry horses is being accomplished with
The utmost difficulty. 1t is said that the
bi9 transports can approach the landing
al Taku no nearer than twelve or fourteen
miles. Vessels drawing more than fifteen
feet Of water are forced to lie far out
IN the gulf. This necessitates the use. of
uzhters for the transportation to the shore
OF both men and horses, making the de-
ketion of a considerable force a task sur
rounded with innumerable obstacles. Add
cd 10 the actual difficulties are the incon-
veniences placed upon the troops. Rains
are almost incessant heavy fogs are prev
alent and the water OF the gulf is exceed
ingly rough
That the advance upon Pekin actually
hegan no later than Friday is well as
cf NJ p