The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-29
CONFERENCE WITH M'KINLEY
MEssRs. FAIRBANKS, DAVIS AND
HIT AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
All Of Opinion that n Special Session
of Congress In Improbable-Envoy
from the Chinese Emperor.

WASHINGTON. June 2s.-The days de-
velopments in Chinese affairs were meager,
and the general opinion here Is that the
two messages received-one from Kempn
and the other from Ii Hung Chang-could
not be accepted settling the important
question as TO the fate of the foreign min
listers at Peking and their. families and
attaches. Admiral Kempffs cablegram was
dated Che-Foo. June Is. 1T read:
About 1900 foreign troops now ashore.
Soldiers ordered should report at Taku In
stead of Che-Foo. Substituted Nashville
for Yorktown at Che-Foo. Yorktown used
as dispatch boat. being more suitable
The secretary of the navy. by special in
struction Of the President. had been par
ticular to cable Admiral Kempn several
days ago to keep the Navy Department In
formed of everything that happened within
the zone of disturbance in China, and II Is
believed that his omission to make any ref
erence in his cablegram of this morning to
the whereabouts of the ministers was based
on the absence of any information on the
subject at Taku. where the admiral is with
his flagship. the Newark. And IL any infor-
nation could be had at Taku. only thirty
miles down the river from Tien-Tsin. Of
the presence of the ministers in Admiral
Seymour's column. but eight miles distant,
then officials here cannot understand how
any other government could have superior
facilities. and so they felt justified in watt
ing for further advices before accepting
the Chinese statements on that point az
accurate. Minister WI called at the State
Department this afternoon and exhibited
the following cablegram TO Secretary Hay:
Canton. June 2s.-The legations minis
ters having left Peking. are now twelve
miles from Tien-Tsin, with Admiral Sey-
mour. Ii HUNG CHANG"
The minister explained that the cable
gram reached him from the Chinese minis-
ter in London. He believes the dispatch TO
be accurate. but the State Department Of
fcials are inclined 10 doubt Il as yet Min
lister wu could not explain away the points
of variance between the viceroy's state
ments and the cable messages received
from other sources. However, he pinned
his faith TO the accuracy of the message.
and pointed out that IL agreed closely with
Admiral Kemph's message CT yesterday.
stating that the ministers were reported to
be with Seymour.
A SUSPICIOUS PHASE.
4Ht -NdNg DtHdi biutit udc ildu lnCL
communication with Admiral Kempff in
the shape OF two messages. one touching
the strength of the foreign forces ashore in
China. and another which. the officials
stated. had no bearing on the military situ-
alton. but in neither was there any mention
of the ministers. One consideration which
makes against the unreserved acceptance
| by the officials Of the assurance Of minor
Chinese officials. including Ii Hung Chang
and Minister wu. that a state Of war does
not exist, is the fact that Mr.. Conger 10
not permitted TO communicate with his own
government by the same means employed
by the Tsung-Li-Yamen In getting news to
the outside world. leading TO suspicion
that he is not at that perfect liberty which
marks the existence OF a state OF peace. IL
is possible that the Chinese government
may be able 10 offer satisfactory explana-
ton on this point but at present the Of
hcials say that our future relations with
China depend altogether on what Minister
Conger has TO say when he is finally
brought again in touch with the State De-
rartment.
An explanation was had at the State De-
partment to-day of the report from Shane-
hai that the consuls there were negotiatins
with the Chinese viceroys respecting the
protection Of the city Because they were
cut off from communication with Minister
Conger. from whom they should receive in
structiohs in normal conditions. the Amer
lean consuls I'm China had been embar-
rassed in dealing with the local Chinese au-
thorities by reason OF the necessity Of se-
curing instructions from Washington at
every point. Therefore Secretary Hay yes
terday sent general Instructions TO all OF
the American consuls in China who could
be reached by cable and wire. authorizing
them TO deal directly with the Chinese
viceroys and taotis in framing measures
for the protection OF American lives and
property. Shanghai has heretofore been
made a neutral port during time Of war by
such agreements between the foreign con-
suls there and the Chinese officials. and Il
Is probable that similar Arrangement win
be made now. The only condition Is that
before withdrawing their naval forces from
the treaty ports the foreign consois must
feel assured that the Chinese officials are
not only willing but are perfectly ab,e -