The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-21
Circulation statement.
Conger Holds China Responsible

The Administration does not yet admit
that state of war exists anywhere in Chi
ma while it is quite satisfied that things
are remarkably pleasant in Pekin- The
excuse is that we have no means of max
ing sure that the Chinese Government was
responsible for the siege and bonbardment
Of the legations by Imperial troops OF
course the President and Secretary Hay
know that the Empress Dowager caused the
murder OF Baron Won Ketteler and the Jap
anese Chancellor of Legation by her per-
sonal bodyguard and they are also aware
that for three months she has been issu"
ing secret edicts ordering her generals,
viceroys. and governors everywhere 10 wage
war against foreigners and to massacre
them alI-consu!s, missionaries, men, wom-
en-, and children. Now Ii Hung Chang as
serts that he has official notice from Pelin
that, on the day before she left the capi-
tai. the Empress Dowager ordered the de-
capitation OF two members OF the Tsung-H
Yamen for advising her to make peace with
The allies.
All these things seem convincing enough,
but today we have an expression of opin-
ion from Minister Conger which is believed
to be practically identical with the
language of a report received from
him this morning by the State
Department. the interesting part OF
which has been suppressed. His Ian
guage appears 10 settle the question of
Chinese governmental responsibility for
good and all In an interview with a cor
respondent of the New York Herald
speaking of the bombardment of the lega-
tons, and the anti-foreign movement gen
orally, Mr.. Conger said:
''Tbey tried to annihilate Us the day before you
got in
Ysmen, sent word that his officers had received
orders to cease firing on Us under pain OF death
AT O'Clock in the evening Of the same day
the Chinese opened fire, and this continued all
day
III the relieving column had not arrived when
II did should probably have succumhed.
The Americans lost seven marines killed and
fifteen wounded and one child died
The whole movement Is purely governmental
one. The Boxers are only pretence, having 10
guns
Tie confidential adviser Of the Empress was
the leader OF the Imperial troops here.
In eleven days over 900 shells ien among
U.S."
As establishing a state of war, nothing
could be more conclusive than the above
statement, known TO have been made by
our representative in China. But it will
not cutwardIy affect the Administration. At
the White House and next door it will be
said that Conger may not have made such
a sweeping declaration as that it was the
Chinese Government and not q lot OF rebels
who had striven with infantry. artillery,
and starvation to exterminate the legation
people. He has so reported, however,
but 1t may be safely assumed that he
will get immediate orders to deny the
Herald interview. and at once to cable
an opinion that the Chinese Government
is utterly innocent of wrong doing, and
to allege that the Boxers who are in re-
beilion against it are solely to blame.
We don't know how pfiabIe man Mr..
Conger may be, but, being a Republican
it is fairly probable that he will do as he
is told; especially when it is explain d
to him that. if his strong words, as given by
the Herald" are allowed to stand, the
Administration will be driven to admit that
We are at war with China, and such an
admission would instantly force Mr.. Nc
Kinly to call Congress in extraordinary
session That disaster is 10 be prevented
at all hazaTdsI