The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-07-21
SAFETY OF LEGATIONS
(Continued from First Page.)

be fooled but I cannot see how the au- thentcity of Minister Conger's message can be questioned" Secretary Hay said he attached no significance to the use of the words Chinese troops" in the message They did not in his opn- ion mean that the Chinese government troops were besieging the foreigners.
 N,ws sent to President.
 Minister Conger's message was tele- graphed by Secretary Hay to the presi- dent, who responded with a wholesome expressioni of qualification and word was sent to the various cabinet officers. They gathered fin Secretary Hays office and an impromptu cabinet conference was held in the diplomatic chamber, mainly for the purpose of exchanging congratulations and of taking a survey of the situation to see if it had been materially changed by this important development. First of all, from the standpoint of the administration off, cials the most welcome feature of the message was it's assurance that the American minister himself was alive two days ago. But with this cheering news came the ominous statement of Minister Conger that the besieged for eigners were in the British legation un- der continued shot and shell from Chi nese troops and that only quick relief could avert a general massacre. After the first flush of thankfulness the grav- CT feature of the message began to inn press itself upon sabinet officails, most deeply. As one of them remarked: "There are the poor creatures, penned of 1nf oh pealing to us for help The consulta- ion brought about no pronounced change of policy, for it was felt that al- ready every energy had been bent to- ward meeting the situation and that there was absolutely nothing more that could be done. After all, the cabinet officials felt, and so stated that the mes sage was an evidence of friendliness and good faith of the pro-foreign ee- ment of the Chinese and that wisdom dictated course which would continue to utilize this friendship.
 itay's Faith in China,
 Secretary Hay seemed to entertain little doubt that China was doing all in her power to suppress the Boxers in- surrection. In this connection the mes sage from Consul Fowler that General Yuan Shih Kai, governor of Shantung province, reported that the Chinese authorities were doing all in their power to put down the insurrectfon is exceedingly welcome intelligence. It not only confirms the theory of the , state department that the position of the Chinese government is correct, but | it is assumed to indicate that Yuan Shih kai has thrown the weight of his l influence on the side of the government. | Yuan is considered one of the abest If l not the ablest generals in China. He has according to statement made by . Lord Charles Beresford to a prominent | state department official when he was here last fall the best drilled and equip- ped army in China under his command. | Some doubt was entertained as to | which side he would ally himself with f in the present instruction and the fact that he apepars to have come to the side of the government is accepted as evidence that his best judgment is that Prince Tuan's rebellion is destined to fall.
 Hay and Wa ConGrntutntcd.
 Throughout the day the Conger mes sage remained the absorbing topic of discussion. Secretary Hay was con- graduated on the success of the steps he had adopted to open up communica- tion between Pekin and Washington, for while the chancellories of the whole world stood hesitating and inactive, he had adopted a course which had brought a message from our minister. The Chinese minister, MT. Wu, shared also in the universal approbation of what had been done. He seconded MT. Hays effort from the outset, and it is due to the official machinery set in motion by him that the communications were gotten through. It is appreciated by the officials, both American and Chinese, that there will be suspicion in some quarters. Against this it is de-