, 1900-07-14
CHINESE MINISTER AT WASHING
TON UNDERTAKES TO
GET IT THROUGH.
The Message is in Cipher, Was Prepared
ed by Secretary Hay and No One
But the Secretary Knows its Con-
tents-Persistent Rumors of Total
Annihilation of Foreigners.

the answer brought back if Mr.. Conger
is alive. The message was prepared
by Secretary Hay, and its contents are
unknown to anyone save him. 1t was
sent to Shanghai with explicit instruc-
ton from Minister WI to spare no eff
forts or expense to get it into the hands
of Mr.. Conger.
The Chinese minister has not only
undertaken to get through a cipher
cable message from Secretary Hay to
United States Minister Conger at Pc
king, but to deliver back the reply of
Minister Conger if he be alive. Mr..
WI forwarded the cipher dispatch, to-
gether with an extended and e~xplana-
tory message of his own, on Wednes-
day and the results are now being ca
gerly awaited, both by Secretary Hay
and the Chinese minister, although it
is appreciated that some days must
elapse before runners can carry out
between the American government at
Washington and the American minis
ter at Picking.
It was soon after Minister WI pre-
sented the text Of the edict issued by
the Chinese imperial government that
Mr.. Hay requested him to get through
a message to Minister Conger. Since
the Chinese government has succeeded
in getting through its own communi-
cation from Picking, Mr. Hay felt that
it was quite reasonable to ask that like
communication be opened between our
minister and the government here.
Mr.. WI readily assented to this propo-
sition and evinced an earnest desire
to use all his personal influence in get
ting through the message. He suggest
ed, however, that Mr.. Hay himself
should write the message in cipher,
as this would be proof positive to Mr..
COngor of its ~genuineness, wherets any
open message to the minister might
be under the suspicion of having
emanated from the Boxers. Mr.. Hay
thereupon wrote the message and had
it translated into the official cipher OF
the state department. The contents
were not made known to Minister WI,
but in its unintelligible cipher form it
was intrusted to him to be placed in
the hands of Minister Conger at the
earliest possible moment. Mr.. WI de-
termined to act through the medium
of an influential imperial officer at
Shanghai, who, by reason of his posi-
ton, is better able than anyone else
in China to execute such a mission.
Besides forwarding the message to
Minister Conger, Mr.. WI sent to the
Chinese official a detailed and urgent
explanatory message in which was set
forth the imperative Importance of per-
forming this service for the American
government. The official was urged
to spare no effect or expense in for
warding the message by couriers, run
ners Or any other means, into the hands
of Minister Conger, and to use like
| IlltdiS III StlllhS path lhN dhS"Cl W
the American government. Two days
have now elapsed since the message
to Conger went forward and it is con-
fidently believed that it is now on its
way from Shanghai to Picking, sur
| rounded by such safeguards and such
efforts for speed that a reasonably ear
ly answer may be expected. At the
same time it is remembered that it
took ten days for China's official de-
cree to get from Picking to Washing
ton. Minister WI is bending every
energy to accomplish this task at the
earliest possible moment, for he looks
upon it not only as a duty, but as a
means by which Chinese officials can
show their sincere desire to render ev-
cry assistance to the American gov
eminent in the present emergency.
Washington, July 13.-The depart
ment Of state has received a dispatch
from Consul General Goodnow at
Shanghai, saying that the governor
of Shan Tung wires that the Boxers
and soldiers were b~ombarding the le-
lations for a final attack upon the 7th
of July. He is extremely anxious for
the safety of the ministers and friend
ly Chinese in Picking. The consul add
that fears of the worst are generally
entertained.
The state department also has re-
ceived a dispatch from Consul DeWade
at Canton, saying that the Viceroy Lii
Hung Chang has engaged quarters up
on the Chinese steamer Anping, but
that the date of his departure for the
north is as yet undecided.
London, July ia news agency re-
port says that an official message re-
ceived in London states that all the for
eigners in Picking were murdered Ju-
ly 6.
Brussels, July 13.-The Belgian for
eign Office has received a cable dis
patch from Shanghai announcing on
Chinese authority that General Nj
Chang has defeated the rebels near
Picking, and has relieved Prince Ching
and General Yung LII, who were try
ing to defend the Europeans.
Iondon Julv 13-A telegram RECEIVE