The Atlanta constitution., 1900-08-27
CONGER MAY RETURN
TO HELP REPUBLICANS

4 In bidirp and the entire governmental
| fabric paralyzed. there is no evidence OF
| an authority adequate to conduct nego-
tiations and secure results which VIII DC
| final and binding.
IT was stated by members OF the capi-
| net that the Chinese establishment, IN
| stead of being a government appears 10
he an enormous headless affair without
| knowledse of what Is for its best goou
| and without power to enforce It's wishes.
| with the recognized ruler in flight. no one
| seems To know who If anybody, is direct-
| ing Its affairs.
AS China is an absolute monarchy'
without any legislative branch the en-
peror and empress dowager arc aii-poWer-
| ful and practically they are the empire
| of China Under the present remarkable
conditions the United states will act with
| caution in what steps 1t may take to"ar"
n solution of the pending problems. IN
| the meantime there is reason to beleVe
that the United States and all the powers
| Interested will keep their armed forces
| on the ground so that order may be mann
| tanned and at least a sembance of stable
government brought out OF the existing
chaos.
Diplomatic Reply to Viceroys.
The reply OF this government to the ap-
peal Of the viceroys Of Nanking and hu-
peror and empress dowager Is a forihal
acknowledgment OF the receipt OF the
! communication with the satisfactory as
| surance that no indignity would be ofier-
ed the persons of their majesties.
This reply is couched in the polite Ian
| guase of diplomacy, but II Is understood
] that this does not In any way commit
| the government TO refrain from imposing
on the emperor and empress dowager
I -. ,l,ea, ~ might
decided upon in case ii is proved tnat
| they were directly responsible FOR the
recent atrocities.
This question of fixing responsibility
| where Il belongs and imposing any pun
/ ,shment that may be deemed httingoh mas
! not received any formal consideration as
] vet The answer with which the two
/ viceroys' appeal is met accordingly Is a
! Diplomatic assurance that the rights OF
| the emperor and empress dowager Will
/ he protected but does not impose any
: barrier to a proper punishment, such as
may be sanctioned by civilized usages Tor
/ any offcnse which hereafter may be held
! to call for an accounting.
This is the Interpretation given the re-
/ My by "A cabinet official tonight. The
/ question of responsibility will have to be
worked out slowly.
Conger's Significant Cable.
The cabinet had before 1t message
| from Minister Conger. received last night
After the meeting the state department.
made public portions of the dispatch.
as follows:
United States Legation. Pekin mo
date) via Che Foo. August 2O.-To Sec
retary State. Washington:
"Saved. Relief arrived today. En-
tered city with little trouble. Do not
yet know where imperial family is.
Except the deaths already reported
all Americans alive and well. Des-
perate efforts made last night tc ex-
terminate us. Mitchell, American SOL
Gier, and a Russian and Japanese
wounded. German killed. Advise
Woodward, Chicago; Conger, Des
Moines; Sims, Council Bluffs; Con-
ger, Pasadena; Porter, Paris.
"CoNGER,
"By Fowler, Che Foo"
II will be observed that the portions
| given out ARE extracts from Minister
! Conger's message It was stated that
! these portions cover such features as the
/ government desires TO make public at
\ this time The entire message was he
! fore the cabinet and the portion not given
/ out doubtless refers to questions of pol
icy and 10 Chinese internal affairs, upon
! which the minister speaks as the adviser
| of the government, rather than rs the
medium OF communicating actual occur
Z rcnccs
I II had been hoped that Minister Con-
! gers adVices, as well as those from
/ General Chanec, would be ample by this
/ time i'm order to afford the Washington
! officials full opportunity 10 deal with the
| prrplexing questions raised by the Chi
/ nrs,. disturbances. General Chatfee has
/ not been heard from and the Conger mes
| sage was not as complete as the author
/ titles here had desired. IL was stated to-
| uay that messages may be sent from
! here TO our representatives. in China
| specifically calling Tor more detailed IN
I formation.
Aside from the consideration given to
/ particular questions raised by the Con-
! ger dispatch. the appeal of Ii Hung
/ Chang and that of the southern viceroys,
/ the cabinet had time To look over the
1 broad field of Chinese affairs. There was
! no effort. however at this stage TO out
( line "a general policy. That will come
4 later and will be, TO considerable cX-
| tent the outgrowth of the governments $
! action upon the various issues as they
/ may be presented