The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-13
AN IMPORTANT MOVE.
Ministers Wu's Effort to Communicate
With Minister Congar.

Washington, July. 13.-The Chinese
minister, Mr.. WI has undertaken to get
through a cipher cable message from
Secretary Hay to United States Minis
ter Conger at Pekin and to deliver back
the reply of Minister Conger is he be
alive. Mr.. WI forwarded the cipher dis
patch, together with an extended ex-
planatory message of his own, on We'd
neSday, and the results are now being
eagerly awaited both by Secretary Hay
and the Chinese minister although 1t is
appreciated that some days must elapSe
before runners can carry out this plan of
opening up communication between the
American government at Washington
and the American minister at Pelxin. It
was soon after Minister WI presented
the text of the edict issued by the Chi
neSe imperial government that Mr.. Hay
requested him to get through a MESA ge
to Minister COnger. Since the Chinese
government has succeeded in getting
through it's own communication from
Pelxin, Minister Hay felt that it was
quite reasonable to ask that like COM
munication be opened between our min
lister and the government here Mr. WI
readily aSsented to this proposition and
evinced an earnest desire to use all his
personal and official influence in getting
through the messages. He suggested,
however, that Mr.. Hay himself could
write the message in cipher as this
would be proof positive to Minister Con-
ger OF It's genuineneSS. whereas any open
message to the minister might be under
the suspicion of having emanated from
the boxers.
Mr.. Hay thereupon wrote the message
ana had 1t translated into the official
cipher of the state department. The
contents were not made known to Min
lister WI, but in it's unintelligfble ci-
pher form it was intrusted to him to be
placed in the hands of Minister Con-
ger at the earliest possible moment Mr.
WI determined to act through the me-
dfum OF an influential imperial officer at
Shanghai, who, by reason of his posi-
tlon, IS better able than any one else in
CHINA to execute such q mission. Be
side forwarding the message to Minis
ter Conger, Mr.. WI sent to the Chinese
official detailed and urgent explana-
tory message, in which was set forth
the imperative Importance of perform
ing this service for the American gov
eminent. The official was urged to
spare no effort or expense in forward
any other means into the hands of Min
lister Conger and to use like means
IN getting back the answer to the
American government.
Two days have now elapsed since the
message to Conger went forward and
1T is confidently believed that it is now
on its way from Shanghai to Pekin,
surrounded by such safe guards and
such efforts for speed, that a reason
ably early 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 Pekin to Washington.
Minister WI is bending every effort to
accomplish this task at the earliest pos
slble moment, for he looks upon it not
only as duty but as means of which
Chlnese officials can show their sim
eere desire to render every assistance
to the American government in the
present emergency