The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-08-02
STILL LYING, LIKELY
Chinese Still Claim That Ministers Are
Alive.
TIE CHINESE PUZZLE UNSOLYED,
The Emperor of China Says theAsp:-
rations of Great Britain are for Com
mercial Extension.

Washington, D. c., Special.-The
Chinese minister came to the State De-
partment early to deliver an edict re-
ceived by him to Secretary Hay. 1t is
similar in form to the edict published
in London. The minister says that
the only differences are those involved
in separate translations. Mr.. Wu's
translation Of Shengs dispatch is as
follows:
"Edict of 2Sth of the sixth moon
corresponding to July 24), states that
fortunately all ministers, except Bar
or Won Ketteler, are. alive and un-
harmed. They are now being supplied
with vegetables. fruit and provisions
by the government, to show its SYM
pathy for them"
II Mr.. WI had any doubt as to the
safety Of the ministers it seems to have
been dissipated by this edicr. He la
bored earnestly with Secretary Hay to
convince him that he was bound to ac>
cept this official declaration OF the
Chinese government. He pointed out
that this last declaration did not rep
resent merely belief Of minor Official
or a viceroy; it was the solemn de-
claration of the Chinese government.
The day brought forth the usual
crop of edicts and reports from various
quarters and the usual department all
bearing directly uron the welfare OF
foreign ministers in Pekin. This con-
sistantly growing mass Of assertion ts
beginning to have cumulative effect
upon the sceptics and there was no.
ticeably more hopeful view taken OF
the state of affairs. Beyond
the fact that it is scarcely conceivable
that the Chinese authorities should
persist in repeating and Strengthening
these stories up to the rapidly ap-
preaching moment when the whole
truth must be disclosed by other agen-
cies, it appeared upon careful con-
sideration of the reports that there
was really little more ground for
hope as to the safely of Mr.. Conger
and his colleagues at Pekin
than there was day ago. The de-
pressing fact is always in mind that
the Chinese authorities, by their own
statements, able to communicate with
the legationers, for some mysterious
reason do not permit these unfc tu-
mates to communicate with their IN
governments. Mr.. Wu's explanation
Of this, namely, that the Chinese
methods are different from our own.
Is scarcely sufficient for the officials
here The minister, .-oweyer, Is hon.
estly trying to get further commun-
ication through from Mr. Conger, and
it may be that success in this under
taking will afford him brilliant vim
dication At least he maintains a
wonderful show of confidence in the
safety of the legationers and man Z
ayers to impress this in some degree
on the officials with whom he comes in
contact
While the positive statement Is
made that it is not the present inten-
ton to send any more troops from
Manila to China, at the same time it
Is known that all contingencies have
been canvassed, and that II an emer-
gency should arise in China which
made it imperative to have additional
troops, they would be drawn from the
Philippines for temporary duty at
least. Some time ago Gen. MacArthur
was advised by Secretary Root to
maintain sufficient transports to carry
supplies between Manila and Taku.
and these transports would be avail
able for emergency troops. The
Pennsylvania, Indiana and Sumner,
when the latter arrives at Manila, win
be held for service between Manila and
Taku and will be available for the con-
tingency which may occur, but which
the department does not expect TO
arise.