Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-08
AN U[T|hATUh
Message Sent to Consul
General GoodnoW.
A GRAVE SITUATION
AReply Expected From China
This Evening.
CONFERENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT
Vigorous Action Necessary to Save
the Ministers.
CONFERENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT
Mr.. WU'S HOPEFUL VIEW

The message from Minister Conger brings
the Chinese situation to its most serious
stage. and the authorities in Washington
regard the matter with great gravity. They
are aware that nothing but the most vigor-
Gus action can meet the conditions.
the ministers and other foreigners In Pekin
and avert war of long duration. After
conference of the men in charge of the
diplomatic and military affairs, In which
President Mckinley participated over the
long distance telephone, the conclusion was
reached to send message to Consul Gen
eral Goodnow. repeating the contents of
the Conger message and advising him fully
of the seriousness Of the situation Ac-
cOrdingly Mr.. GOOdnow was direcst to
notify Earl Ii Hung Chang, Sheng and
other Chinese officials who We're to trans
NIT the information to the government of
China that the existing situation was In
tolerable and could not be permitted to
continue without The most serious results.
1t is understood that the dispatch was
practically ultimatum and an early re-
ply was demanded 1t was expected that
the dispatch would bring a reply some time
during this evening, and the future action
of this government will depend on the ma
tUre u this reply.
The Worst Feature.
The worst feature Of the situation in Pc
kin is the apparent inability Of the allied
powers to impru e II and insure the abso-
lutte safety of the legatianers pending the
arrival of the relief column from Tien Tsin
The gravest apprehenslOns are felt for the
safety of the imprisoned ministers in the
present temper Of the Chinese people In u
hostile city. with only u meager allowance
Of food and ammunition. and with no pros
poets Of relief from the outside under the
most favorable circumstances for at least
two weeks their condition is indeed deplor-
able. The alleged statement of Ii Hung
Chang that 1t is absolutely Impossible for
the allies to enter Pekin to escort the min
listers to Tien Tsin adds greatly to the Sc
rloUsness of the situation
1t clearly implies the purpose of the
Chinese government to resist the ad-
vance movement of the aIlieL forces
to the full extent of its power
coupled with the further implica-
tic that further hostile demonstrations on
the part Of the allies may jeopardize the
lives Of the ministers. The latter are in the
gIavest sort of peril. They are certainly
not safe in Pekin, and Minister Couser has
said that 1t means certain death to leave
there According to the Chinese viceroy
ID
Pekin. and II they do not do so. the safety.
of the ministers will depend entirely upon
the questionable mercy of the Chinese, who
undoubtedly hold them responsible for their
present troubles
The Key to the Situation.
According TO certain conservative diplo-
mattsts the Chinese undoubtedly hold the
key To the situation today. 50 far as the
actual safety of the legationers is con-
cerned and the greatest care must be taken
10 avoid any action that might tend to in
"rease the difficulty Of llberating the minis
tvr~- The powers are hardly in a position
dt present to dictate terms TO the Chinese
ri it Is probable that a compromise will
I've 10 be made in order to avert an actual
.-'taraton Of war by the powers course
''' viii. be delayed so long as there is any
-bi-iry Of saving the lives OF the prison.
g. N Pekin. So far as known there is no
ent purpose of calling halt In the al
--'2 movement against Fek!n, and there is
g. i.kel- hood of such a step unless it should
f.pse the only means of SAVING the min
'S,ers.
I IS acknowledged that the rc;:zf column
Is not strong enough to maintain war against
tie Chinese kingdom for any great .euyth
df time, but heavy reinforcements are en-
rt'.,e To China Their arrival on the scene
may alter the situation entirely and bring
the obstinate ortentals to their senses
There Is no doubt that they must ultf-
ma;e.y submit to the wishes of the powers
and pay heavily for their past ofrenses.
Worried About the Present.
II is the present situation. however that
worries the United States admins tration
and not the future. and there is general
cEagrin that it is not in a position to en-
force its demands and bring the Chinese
authorities to Instant terms without fur
ther parley-
In the course Of the next two months
there will be about $3.50 American troops
on Chinese soil. not counting many thou
sands more that could be transferred from
the Philippines in case of necessity and II
might well be understood now that the
Chinese will be he'd to a strict accounta-
bility for any injury that may be sustained
by American interests in the present crisis
What should be done for the immediate re-
lief Of the ministers is the problem now
confronting the administration and is the
subject Of anxious conferences between the
officials now in this city and telegraphic
correspondence with the President at Can
ton and the Secretary of State at Sunapee
New Hampshire.
-Ot.sage From Goodnow
Acting Secretary Adee received a cable
message this morning from Consul Goodnow
at Shanghai giving the latest Information
in his possession in regard to the sftua ton
In China. including the operations of the
allied forces engaged in the advance on