The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-20
MINISTER CONGER
IS ALIVE.
CONTINUED from First Page,


good tidingS," said he. Il have hardly
had time to think of the exact effect
of the news on the situation, but it re-
moves one of the great elements of
doubt and leaves us free to hope for
the rescue of the foreigners in Pel1in.
1t is a great victory for the state de-
partment of the United States Every
country in christendom was employing
every agency in it's possession to OBJ
tain authentic news of the besieged
ministers and the United States is the
first to give to the world authentic and
absolutely reliable word direct from
the place in which the beleagured min
listers are garriSOned. There is now
good reason to believe that the minis
tiers will be able to hold out until a re-
lieving force reaches them. If they
have been able to stand the siege for
almost a month after the outside world
had given up hope, there seems no rea-
to hold out a little longer"
do you regard the fact that the mes
sage is in the state department code as
conclusive evidence that it emanated
from Minister Conger?'' he was asked
Might it not be possible that having
massacred the people in the American
legation the code fell into the hands of
the leaders of the boxer movement, and
if such were the fact they might have
framed the reply in the state depart
mert's code and attached Minister Con-
gers signature to it?'
Il regard such suggestion as deal
ing with possibility too remote to be
seriously considered" replied the secre-
tary. L am of the opinion that out
siders could have not made use of our
code, and beside the nature of the re-
ply, with its strong appeal for imme-
date relief would not have been sent
by any one seeking to conceal cat
aStrophe to the foreigners in Pel<in."
Does this message in any way
change the situation or the policy of
our government?''
Il do not see that it does, or will re-
cult o172 of he a
are organizing a column for the relief
of the foreigners at Pekin and now
that it is known that they are alive.
thu news can only result in pressing
forward the column at the earliest pos
sible moment"
MERCHANT SHIPS IMPRESSED.
Victoria. B. c, July 20.-Word was re-
ceived here today by the local agent OF
the Nippon Yusen Kiashi line connect
ing with the Great Northern railway
that two of their vessels, the Tosa
MarT and Kinshiu Maru, have been i'm
pressed by Japan to carry troops to
yesterday for the Orient is the only
vessel left in service. She will not be
back until September.
EARL Ii WILL NEGOTIATE.
Rome, July 2O.-The Italian consul
at Hong Kong telegraphs under date
of Tuesday, July II, that Ii Hung
Chang informed him that he was going
to Pekin to negotiate with the powers
In compliance with a Q1SpdIcn signed ny
the emperor and the empress dowager.
The consul asked him to forward a dis
patch to the Italian minister, Signor
Raggi, but Lii Hung Chang replied that
he had no means of doing so. Lii Hung
Chang, the consul reports notified the
directors of customs that they must
obey orders from Canton, not from
Pekin. The VlcerOy OF Nank1n has given
similar instructions for Shanghai.
TO STOP SHIPMENT OF ARMS.
London, July 2O-In the house of
commons to-day replying to a question
relative to the expectation of arms to
China, Mr.. A. J. BalfOur, first lord of
the treasury and government leader in
the house. said it was impossible in the
present state of the law, to prohibit
such expectation, but as the matter
was extremely pressing a bill would
to-day be introduced to give the gov
eminent the necessary power. Such a
bill was subsequently introduced in
the house of lords.
AUTHENTICITY DOUBTED IN LON
DON.
London, July 2O.-Minister Conger's
message to the state department at
Washington is not regarded here as
justifying over much optimism, but on
the contrary is generally accepted as a
further Chinese attempt at mystifica-
ton. Some think the fact that the
message is undated and that the sim
ilarity of its contents to Sir Robert
Harris message of June "a, suggest that
it was sent off about the same time,
but was intercepted by the Chinese
The skeptical are confirmed in their
suspicious by the fact that a. message
was received by NJ. Delcasse, he
French minister of foreign affairs, to-
day, through the Chinese minister at
Paris, purporting to come from the en-
peror, asking Frances mediation and
which it is alleged was dated July 10,
and makes no mention of the foreign
legations at Pekin.
LIVELY FOR THE MARINES.
Washington, July 20.-General Hey
wood, cornmandant of the marine
corps, and Major Denny, quar-
tcrnaster. were in consultation with
Secretary Long at the navy department
to-day with respect to the immediate
transportation of marine battalions
about to be modified in this city for
service in China. These marines, num-
bering fifteen officers and sol men, in
command of Major Dickens, will leave
this city next Sunday afternoon at
$3.50 o'clock for San Francisco. They
are scheduled to sail on the transport
Hancock, which will leave San Fran
cisco within an hour or two after their
arrival either on the 9th or 28th inst.
CONGER'S BROTHER TOLD.
Los Angeles, Cal, July 20-Rev. E.
L. Conger of Pasadena, a brother of
Minister Conger, was shown by an As
ISOLATED Press reporter this morning a
copy of the dispatch received by the
state department.
TT is directly in line with what
have felt and thought all along" he
said. II have never given up the hope
that the 1egationers and foreigners in
Pelxin were still alive. but felt and of
course, feel more than ever now, that
they are in dire distress and that help
must come to them soon or they will
perish miserably. The United States
is proceeding along the safest and best
lines, no doubt, and I can only trust,
for the sake of my brother and the
others who are there that there will
be not moments delay, as long as
there is hope of reaching Pekin before
a massacre takes place.
Rev. Mr.. Conger also received a tele-
gram from the state department this
morning, transmitting to him the mes