The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-16
MAY give THEM UP
REPORT THAT CHINA WOULD DE.
LIVER MINISTER'S
OUTSIDE OF PENN'S GATES
ANXIOUS TO KEEP FOREIGNERS OUT
OF SACRED CITY.

Osspatcnes have Been Tempered
With-Talk of "A New Government
for ChinR-Crisis Believed to BE
Near at Hand.
Washington. Aug. 15-Minister Conger
and his associates in Pekin have been
kept in absolute ignorance of what is
going on in the world outside This de-
veloped to-day.
1t will be recalled that on Aug. Sec
retary Hay, in order to test the communi-
cation facilities through the Chinese lega-
tion, sent Mr.. Conger a message which
should have called for a direct reply.
There has been no reply TO that. nor
have there been replies to any of the
other messages sent by this government
At the same time, there is no reason to
doubt that the messages which have been
received from Minister Conger are genu-'
Inc. There have been more of those than
have been made public. They have come,
not only through the Chinese minister
here and through American consular rep
resentatives and Gen Chaffee, but they
have come from Minister Conger direct
Secretary Root gave assurances to that
effect to-day
1t will be recalled that within the last
day or two one of the other ministers in
telegrap phing his government stated that
they had received no news whatever
from the outside. This was considered
rather peculiar a the time and a careful
review of the Conger messages was made
This led to the conclusion that none of
these messages have been direct answers
to messages sent by the officials of our
government. 1t was the first message
from Conger which Secretary Hay at the
time regarded as a reply to his message
sent through Minister Wu.
May Have Been Tempered with
A number of the messages received from
Minister Conger have been to a greater
or lesser extent undecipherable. The au-
thorities are uncertain just what is the
reason for this, whether they have been
bulled in transmission or whether there
has been an effort on the part of some
body to tamper with them. The message
received yesterday was, however, perfect
ly clear. That is about the only thing
the officials will say about it,
There is ample evidence, however. that
it was even more serious in its import
than was at first supposed and there is
every reason to believe that President Nc
kinley's determine ton to come to Wash
ington sooner than he had expected was
inspired TO some degree by that message
According to, the understanding of it
which prevails in official circles, the Con-
ger message told of renewed and vigorous
efforts on the part of the Chinese govern
ment to induce the ministers to accept a
Chinese escort. The term force was
used, SO it is understood, which would in
dicate that the Chinese authorities had
resorted to drastic measures of some
character in order to get the legation peo-
pie away from Pekin at any cost
ParIeying at Pekins Gates.
cablegram from Pritchard Morgan, the
English member of Parliament, who. as
the head OF the Anglo-American syndi-
cate operating in China, seems to have
had exceptionally good sources of infor-
nation througout this whole affair. at
tracted much attention here to-day. 1t
was published in the New York World and
states that negotiations are already pro-
ceeding in China between the imperial
government and the commanders of the
European forces to arrange conditions for
handing over the foreigners to the allied
army. The point in dispute, according to
Mr.. Morgan, is as 10 where the transfer
shall be made, whether inside or outside
the wall of Pekin. Naturally the Chinese
are anxious to have it occur on the out
side. as their chief aim is TO keep the al
lied forces from getting inside the city.
According to the plan outlined, as soon
as the safety of the foreigners is assured,
l.. Hung Chang will offer terms OF settle
ntnt of the whole difficulty, giving full
reparation to the Powers, especially Ger
many. including indemnity and the prompt
punishment of all officials who have been
responsible for the outrages.
While this is very interesting informa-
tion and is a course likely to be pursued.
it is impossible to confirm 1t through any
OF the government officials in position
70 know just what is going on. Secretary
Root said to-day that he did not care to
either affirm or deny the report.
New Government for China.
Mr.. Morgan's dispatch goes further and
indicates that in a general way a plan
for the future government of China is
being considered. He speaks of it as a
proba bllity of the future rather that an
adtuality under consideration at present.
But it is interesting even If II has not
reached the stage Of official considera-
tion. II is for the government of China
by ten native viceroys appointed for life.
They are to act under a supreme head,
a European, nominated by the Powers.
On vacancy arising among the ten
chosen rulers, the viceroys will have the
right to nominate a man to fill the place,
subject 10 the veto of the supreme head.
The responsibility for government of the
country under European surveillance will
be thrown upon the shoulders Of the pa
triotic viceroys with their assistants
and the administration will be reformed
broadly on lines suggested by the reform
cd imperial customs under Sir Robert
Hart.
This plan Is based upon conviction that
China can be governed only by the Chi
nese. Disarmament is suggested as part
of the new scheme and an important feel