The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-07-26

OF the Legations still Nyster-
iUus as Ever

at lien IHln OA an bfB''~t'N''
message in autograph from Minister Con-
ger has done nothing TO dissipate the
doubt as to the situation at Pekin. The
message, which was forwarded ythe
naval officers at Tien Tsin, Taku and Che
Foo, has served onl yto deepen the dark
est ami saddest mystery Of the century.
The official conclusion remains unhcanged
of course. but It is edmitted that care
ful scrutiny of the autograph message,
in comparison with the famous cipher
message from Minister Conger, admits OF
the belief that the two messages were in
dictated b yMr. Conger at about the same
time. The situation at the British lega-
ton Is represented to be the same in
each case, and as Mr. Conger declares
that relief must come quickly If at all
there is ground for the suspicion that this
reasoning IS correct involves the further
conclusion that Mr.. Conger's cipher mes
sage, If genuine, was re-dated and Of
course, If re-dated at all, that was done
by tho Chinese officials. on the other
hand, and in support of the state depart
ments position, came another message
toda yfrom another of the great vice
roys, TAX, he who took charge after Ii
Hung Chang's departure. This also af-
firmed soemnly the safety of the lega-
tioners, and coming from so many diff
erent sources and from such an important
Chinese official, these dispatches do claim
attention. pessimistic view of them.
however attributes to all a common ori-
gin. Namely, some on high Chinese per-
sonage at Pekin 1t is noted that Talks
assurance brings the ministers one day
further towards ultimate rescue than has
any preceding message. The fact that
1t allows only three days to cover the
transmission over the great distance be-
Pekin and Canton has attracted attention
here and appears to demand the expla-
nation, If the message is to be accepted
as genuinely of Pekin origin
1t was not known to the state depart
men until the publication of the fact
In the newspapers that the French gov
ernment also had been addressed by the
Chinese government in the effort 20 Sc
cure mediation. 1t now appears that still
other powers were addressed in a similar
strain. 1t Is known that Great Britain
and Germany and probably Russia have
received such messages The language is
not the same but the animating idea is.
The state department officiasI saw that
generally speaking this idea is not so
the powers to resort to the sediment OF
the settlement of the difficulties between
them and China by he substitution of
negotiations for armed forces. This an
pears more clearly from a comparison of
the various notes than it did in the sim,
pie note addressed to the president. Be
ing so, the chancesl Of successful ont
come or this attempt of the Chinese gov
ernment TO secure an amelioration of
die Boxer action are much diminished by
the intimation that the powers are expect
ed to refrain from pressing the movement
towards Pekin. on the contrary, the
united Statse war department is moving
at present with greater energy than at
any time since the original order for
troops TO get its contingent in position
Tor the task before it. General Chaffee
reported to the department formally to-
day from Nagasaki and there received
the orders which have been sent by cable
since his departure from San Francisco.
An idea of their general character can
DO gathered from the generals renort
that he was about to push forward at
oace with his big transport for Talu
He will not even stop at Che Foo and II
is even doubtful whether he will detain
the Grant at Nagasaki long enough to
take on coal. He is also energetically
taxing steps in advance to meet the evil of
which the foreign naval commanders
have complained but none have renedied
the lack of landing facilities at Taku.
To this end he has instructed Lieutenant
Colonel Coolidge, OF the Ninth infantry
at Tien Tsin, to secure at once all the
tugs and lighters necessary to a speed,
landing of the reinforcements and stores
that are being carried out by the United
States transport Grant In spite of t.e
alarm with which the Chinese Officials
including Ii Hung Chang profess m
view with the advance of. the allied forces
on Pekn, so far as 1t effects the safety
or the foreign minister's il NAV he said
that none OF the powers have ev,nced
any tendency to abate their preparations
or accept an escort of imperial troops for
the ministers from Pekin TO Tien Tsin
rms government has acted all the while
on the theory that the ministers vera
awe ana mas accepted in good faith the
assurances OF the Chinese government to
'iis eHect' but II has nor recognized In
any way the suggestion contained in
Nhengs cable OF yesterday that the Chi
nese government should furnish the for
eigners an escort out OF Pekin 1t was
said at the state department today that
the American miniser is not to he deliv-
cred up by force Of Chinese troops TO
the ahed FORCES or to any one else This
government deems II much more apropri-
ate' II he needs an escort out OF Pekin.
that IL should be composed OF American
soldiers.
CONTRADICTORY MESSAGES FROM