The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-21

Washington, July 20.-Minister Conger
&c alive Through the medium of the Chi
.a minister he has been able to reply
n the cipher dispatch sent him ten days
ago by Secretary Hay.
The reply was delivered to Secretary
Hav this morning by the Chinese minister
and rs authenticity is accepted by Secre-
..ry tIav and all the officers of the gov
eminent
As an evidence of Secretary Hays faith
- tbe ren,v Of Minister Conger, all the
foreign Governments and the foreign rep
,osentatiyes of the United States have
bean officially notified that our minister
n China was alive on the 18th, safely
housed with his family and immediate
friends in the British legation at Pekin.
Secretary Long, who has from the be-
o;rrinq refused 10 believe in the reported
massacre of the foreign ministers, official
~ notified the naval commanders on the
foreign stations of the receipt of Minister
i Conger's dispatch.
In certain quarters an effort was made
10 throw a doubt over the dispatch be-
cause it contained no date. 1t was sus-
sested that it might be an old dispatch
warmed over for the purpose of subduing
the rapidly growing feeling of resentment
AGAINST China in the United states.
7. was further suggested that the Chi
rese authorities, in disposing of Minister
Conrer and destroying the american lesa-
zion might have secured the American
code by which they were enabled to reply
IA the cipher dispatch transmitted by
Secretary Hay through the agency of The
Chinese minister.
When these various suggestions were
made 10 the Secretary this evening ne
emphaucally rejected them as lmproo-
able under the circumstances. He adoed
that he was too old not TO know that ne
might he lOOleC. CHNGA lilS S4A~N''-'~N
ces. however. he felt assured that the re-
NV he had received to-day from Minister
Conger was genuine. He added that II
vas perfectly reasonable to suppose that
Minister Conger. when obliged TO seek
refuge in the British legation, naturally
took with him his cypher code, which is
probably the most precious official prop
er;y he possesses.
Dispntch Was in Cipher.
The original dispatch prepared by Sec
retary Hay was written in cipher ana II
was SO worded that only Minister Conser
could have sent the reply which glad
dened the hearts of the American people
to-day Secretary Hay says he can hardly
credit the suggestion that even II the
Chinese authorities are in possession of
the cipher code of the United States,
they could have framed a dispatch SIM
liar to that forwarded by Minister Con-
ger.
It is quite likely that the Chinese au-
thorities NAV have restricted Minister
Conger 20 prescribed limit for he would
have doubtless been only too glad To
transmit more detailed statement of his
surroundings. OF course, his dispatch was
probably censured to the extent that the
Chinese authorities were enabled to know
the import of the dispatch without pos
sesSing che exact language.
In addition 10 the dispatch bearing all
The legitimate evidence of reliability, its
authenticity is vouched for by high Off
cal representatives of the Chinese gov
Pnnent who profess to still entertain
friendly relations with the United States.
VIII He No Relaxation.
while Secretary Hay admits that the
ohclal knowledge that Minister Conger
and his fellows are being protected as far
=" possible from the mob in and around
rekin there will be no relaxation on the
Vi me united states ana the allleu
'0'ces in pressing on to Pekn and rescu-
"s the foreign representatives now sup
YOSel to be in need of immediate relief.
=" TINS end numerous conferences were
"h between the Secretaries of State, War
Navy relative to withdrawing troops
avn the Philippines and forwarding them
" once to China.
" Is understood that arrangements are
s'ns forward by which it is proposed to
ID i'om three to five thousand troops
III The Philippines in addition to those
.'say ordered to China to augment the
"'' column now pressing on to Pekln.
''''"uhs'andlng the dissenting opinion OF
'' McArthur to such course. It is
''a advisable to adopt this course in