The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-14
TRYING TO REACH CONGER.
Chinese Minister Undertakes to De-
liver q Message TO Him, II He
Is still Alive,

WASHINGTON. July 1s.--The Chinese
minister. Mr.. WI. has undertaken TO get
through a cipher cable message from Sec
rotary Hay to United States Minister Con-
ger at Peking, and to deliver back the re-
ply of Minister Conger If he is alive. Mr..
WI forwarded the cipher dispatch, together
with an extended explanatory message OF
his own. on Wednesday, and the results
are now being eagerly awaited both by
Secretary Hay and the Chinese minister.
although IL Is appreciated that some days
must elapse before runners can carry out
this plan of opening up communication be-
tween the American government at WASH
ington and the American minister at Pc
II was soon after Minister WI presented
the text OF the edict issued by the Chinese
imperial government that Mr.. Hay re-
to Minister Conger Since the Chinese
government has succeeded in getting
through its own communication from Pc
king. Mr.. Hay felt that II was quite rea-
sonable to ask that like communication
be opened between our minister and the
government here. Mr.. WI readily assent
ed to this proposition, and evinced an
earnest desire to use all his personal in
fiuence in getting through this message
He suggested, however, that Mr. hay MN
self should write the message IN cipner'
as this would be proof positive TO Mr.
Conger OF its genuineness, whereas an
open message to the minister might be
under the suspicion OF having emanated
from the Boxers.
L.
and had Il translated into the official
cipher OF the state department. Inc con-
tents were not made known TO Minister
WI, but II was intrusted to him to be
placed In the hands of Minister Conger
at the earliest possible moment. MT.
WI determined to act through the medi-
UNI Of an influential imperiai onIc sfi,o at
is better able than anyone else IN emma
to undertake such a mission. Beside for
warding the message 70 Minister longer
At Va. unvze 60 hA
tailed and urgent explanatory message
in which was set forth the imperative
importance of performing this service TOT
the American government. The official
was urged to spare no effort or expense
in forwarding the message by courier.
runners or any other means, into the
means In getting back the answer to the
American government. Two days have
now elapsed since the message to Conger
went forward. and IT is confidently be-
Shanghai to Picking. surrounded by such
safeguards and such efforts for speed
that a reasonably early answer may be
AZ the same sirne Il Is remembered that
# took ten DAYS for China's of'iciai decree
to get from Picking to Washington Minis
ter WI is bending every energy TO accom-
plish this task at the earliest possible mo-
ment for he looks upon 1t not only as a
duty but as a means by which Chinese
officials can show their sincere desire to
offer any assistance to the American gov
eminent In the present emergency.
France VIII Try the Same Thing.
PARIS, July iS.-The Chinese minister
edict dated June Is. To this NJ. Delcasse
minister of foreign affairs, an imperial
edict dated June 2.s To this NJ. Deicasse
has replied that since the Chinese gov
eminent has the means to communicate
with its representatives abroad, II ought
to guarantee communications between
the foreign powers and their representa-
tives at Picking. and he has therefore
charged the Chinese minister to transmit a
telegram to NJ. Pinchon, the French min
lister to China.