The sun., 1900-07-24
SAFETY Or ENJOYS
Is Declared In New Chinese
Message.
SAYS THEY'RE UNHURT.
But Cable Differs Somewhat
From Conger Dispatch.

Text of Imperial Edict From China
shows That Authorities There
Deem the Attack on Tien-tsin I'm
wnrranted-secretn Hay Receives
Messages From All Quarters of the
Globe Declaring Disbelief In Gem
uineness of the Conger CabIegram.
state Department still Believes 1t
to BE Genuine-Good Work by Ma
jor Waller and His Men at Tien-
tsin-Text of Letter written by
One of the Ladies' In the Besieged
Legations.
Washington, July 23.--The state de-
partment has made public the fHlowing:
The state department has received Il
dispatch from Mr. GOodnow, the consul
general at Shanghai, dated July %, say
ing that Prince Tuan wires that an otli-
Ger of the tstng-i-yamcn saw all the
ministers On the 18th, that none was
injured and that no attack was mt that
time being made. He does not say to
whom the dispatch uf Prince Tuan was
addressed, and 1t is 20 a certain extent ut
variance with the dispatch Of Mr.. Conger
Ol IHaL udle, ucScTlblHE lIc itSUll'l az
being under fire Mt that time
The officials of the state department,
after considering Consul General Good
now's dispatch, express the belief that II
mistake has been made in the transmits
sion of the message and that the name
Tuan should have been Yuan, governor
of the province of Shangtung.
The state department is the center Of
;ptnroct Sncpntnpv ITov NVns nt his desk
early and for an hour was busily en-
gagged with matter Of such Importance
that he declined to be interrupted by any
one. The Chinese minister arrived and
was with the secretary for some time. On
the departure of the minister the depart
ment gave out the imperial edict of the
Chinese government, the substance Of
which had been previously made known.
Text of the Edict.
The edict Is as follows:
IAN imperial cdct. issued on the LIST
day of the 9th moon, July II, transmitted
by the Viceroy I4iu Kun-yih on the 10th
of July and received by Minister Wu on
the 21st day of July at o'clock:
':Thc present conflict between China
md the foreign powers had its origin in
the long stan ling antagonism between
the people and Christian missions. The
subsequent fall of the Tallu forts precip-
itated the meeting of force with force.
The imperial government, having due re-
gard to the Importance Of internauonh!
intercourse. still refused to go so far as Ia
interrupt the existing relations. we
have already repeatedly issued decreeS
providing for the protection of the Tor
eign legations and also commanded the
provincial authorities to protect mission
aries.
''Inasmuch as there is still no cessation
in the employment of force, foreign mer'
chants and subjects residing in China
who form IL numerous body in the cOun
try, should be protected without distinc
tion.
1--WE hereby command all the Tartar
generals. governors general and govern
ors of provinces to look after the foreign
merchants and missionaries living in thu
open ports, prefectures. departments ant
districts under their respective jurisdic
tion. and to afford them due protection il
accordance with the treaty stipulation
without fail.
Last month. we heard. with profoun'
astOnishmcnt and regret. of the Killing 0
the chancellor of the Japanese legation
Mr.. Akira, and the same fate hefell th'
German minister shortly afterward. Tn
violent removal of the German minister
whose residence at the capital was nee
essary to the transaction of business he
tween the two countries, affected us YER
deeply. 1t is the duty of the authoritie
concerned to cause stringent orders fo
the speedy arrest and punishment of tn
murderers to be carried out.
To Investigate Claims.
s.Since the commencement of the attac
on Tien-tsn there are foreign subject
and missionaries who have, on accoun
of local disturbances, suffered death q
loss of property through no fault OF thei
own. We hereby command the governo
of Peliing and the viceroy of Chill I
cause Investigations to be made by thel
respective subordinates Of all such claim
except those arising directly from tn
said attack with view to their ultimat
settlement
"Moreover, local outlaws and rebellion
subjects have of late given themselves u
to 10 rning, killing and plundeTing, to tn
great ,lisquiet of our loyal subjects. Thi
is an utter defiance of law. We hereb
command the said governors genera
governors and commanders of our force
to investigate the situation and to tax
such measures for the punishment OF I'll
offenders and restoration of order as I'll
necessaries of the case demand.
I'VE hereby command this, our gener;
edict, to be made known for the inform;
tion of all it may concern. Respect this.
A significant statement in the aboN
edict is noted in that passage which d
rects an investigation of all claims, 'e:
cept those arising directly from the sal
attack (attack on Tien-tsin), with vie
to their ultimate settlement"
This appears to make plain not on
that the Chinese government will sett
claims for actual losses, but that it h;
now formally decreed an exception I
those claims drlsing directly from the a
tack on Tien-tsin. 1t seems to indica
that the Chinese government holds th'
the attack on Ten-tsin was unwarrante
Europe Increduiouz.
The state department has received