Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-14
CIPHER FROM CONGER
Supposed to Be Reply to State De-
partment's Dispatch.
CONTENTS NOT YET MADE PUBLIC
An Atmosphere of Acute Suspense
About Officials.
SPECULATION AS TO CHAFFEE

The State Department at noon today re-
ceived a cipher cable message from Minis
ter Conger at Pekin- 1t was forwarded by
the Chinese authorities to Minister WI
here, who promptly communicated It, by
Secretary Chung, to the State Department
Mr.. Adee. the acting secretary of state,
Immediately sought Secretary Root for con-
sultation. No statement was made as to
the contents of the message 1t was con-
jectured to be a reply to the last dispatch
of the State Department to Minister Con-
ger. sent at the same time the an
swer was given to the imperial edict. But
whether ii was this, or some new light on
the critical condition in Pekin. the officials
did not disclose. Mr.. Adee and Secretary
Root each declined to discuss the message.
and the secrecy observed gave rise to the
impression that the message contained
news of an unfavorabie character.
There was an atmosphere of acute sus.
pense in the State, War and Navy Depart
ments through the early hours of today.
1t was generally recognized that the cam
paign in China was rapidly approaching d
critical stage. The latest news from the
American advance, which inferentiaIly in
cluded the forces of Great Britain. japan
and Russia. made IL seem probable that the
word Pekin" might be flashed over the
wires at any moment. The international
advance. arguing from the progress it has
already made, must be by this time close
10 the point on the road where China will
elect to make her last stand in defense of
her capital unless at the last moment she
chooses the part of discretion and comes
to the terms already laid down by the
United States and tacitly agreed to by the
other powers. Thus the officials here are
momentarily expecting one of two things,
either diplomatic backdown on the part
of China. which Will mean a few days more
of fencing and negotiation before an armed
escort is admitted TO Pekin, or else the
news from. Gen. Chaffee that he has en-
countered strong opposition at Ching CHA
Wan or Tung Chow. two of the largest
cities between Tien Tsin and Pekin.
Either Development Possible.
Either of these developments is regarded
as quite possible. On general principles
this government looks for an agreement on
the part of China, a slow grudging COM
plfance with our demands, hedged about
with as much delay as the intricacies of
oriental diplomacy can procure At the
same time if the rabid anti-foreign element
is in control in Pekin as all advices seem
10 indicate. 1t would not be very surprising
If China relied on force to the last to check
the advance of the internationals and save
the capital from capture.
The Chinese minister was at the State
Department early this morning and had an
interview with Acting Secretary Adee. Both
parties 70 the conference declared that there
was nothing new TO be said. The min
ls;er said that he had no news from China
and had transmitted nothing new to the
department At the same time it was sus-
pected that China had made some further
tentative move as a final effort TO test the
determination Of the United States in the
firm stand i; has already taken
Mr.. WI evinced a deep interest in the
war news from General Chaffee and car
ried away with him one of the War De-
between Tien Tsin and Pekin in order TO
better follow the advance of the foreign
column.
Delay in China's Reply.
Secretary Root said that he had received
nothing fresh from General ChaTee. and
had no reason 10 believe that China had
made any fresh move toward peace nego-
tia-ions- The fact that the Chinese gov
ernment has not yet replied to the Ameri-
can note of August S makes it seem uues-
tionable whether she intends to do So
Even allowing for delays in transmission
there has been abundant time for a reply
to be transmitted, and its absence is caus-
ing some remark among officials II Is re-
garded as quite possible that both the Adee
note of August and the subsequent reply
OF the State Department to the Chinese
edict. announcing the appointment of Ii
Hung Chang as peace envoy. may be now
hang up IN Shanghai. through fear on the
part Of Ii Hung Chang az 20 his own fate
II such insolent barbarian documents are
forwarded 20 the sacred members of the
imperial household. Il is known here on
good authority that Minister WI was per
sonaliy nervous about transmitting Secre-
tary Hays curt demand 20 the Chinese
government. IL follows that Ii Hung
Chang. who has not six thousand miles of
land and water between himself and the
Gnti-foreign members OF the privy council
may be even more circumspect as TO how
he transmits unwelcome documents TO the
Imperial city.
Speculation on Chaffee's Movements
As to the future movements of General