The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-07-21

The belief that the message received by
the State Department through WI Ting
fang the Chinese Minister, yesterday,
purporting to have been sent from Peki9
by Minister Conger on July IS. was an
old cablegram which had been Intercepted
by the Chinese officials. found many fol-
lowers in the State, War, and Navy de-
partnaents today.
tt many tricks played by The Tsung-
li-Yamen and the various NicerOys have
served 10 add 10 the feeling that the
message was written during the last week
OF June or early in July; was held up.
and then served out as a late despatch
in response TO the query Of Secretary
Hay. This theory is deemed more prOba-
BILE than that the Chinese had obtained
and decirhered the American diplomatic
code book.
Secretary Hay still maintains officially
that the message came from Mr.. COnger,
but he is not so certain as to the date.
In any event. all are agreed that the
message whether written in June or on
July IS. shows very serious state OF af-
fairs existing in the British Legation, and
great need for immediate relief Several
| conferences were held on the question OF
rushing an expedition to Pe6in at once, aud
/ it has been determined 10 wait no longer.
Secretary Long stated today that he lad
sent Admiral Ramey an urgent despatch,
| telling him TO prepare for an expedition
at once. He further asked for figures on
/ the exact strength of the land forces now
/ at Taku and Tientsin- II IL is deemed
/ strong enough the body VIII be ordered TO
/ proceed at once. Only immediate work can
| save Mr. Conger. if he is still alive, N
| the opinion Of Secretary Long. and he is
| desirous that no delay be tolerated
| Minister WI held a long conference with
/ Secretary Hay at the State Department.
| this morning. and left with him copies OF
! two dispatches that, he said, he had just
received. These messages, he said, would
serve to ecafrm the genuineless OF the
alleged Cor~er cablgram- II must be ad-
mitted however. so strong is the suspi-
! cion attached TO any and all communica-
tions from Chinese sources, that further
proof will be necessary TO remove the
present burden OF doubt
Mr. wu's Message.
The first message left by Mr.. WI is
| from Sheng. Director General OF Posts aod
| TeIegraphs, bearing no date. and says;
Fortunately that Minister COEEeT's
reply has come. Imperial decree OF yhe
22d OF this moon July 1S) states that
all ministers were safe Insurgents
fighting and killing each other Il
Hung Chang is proceeding north 20
SUPPRESS riot viii find il difficult to CO.
The second is from Liu Kun II, Vieeroy
Of Marking dated July d II is as fol-
lows:
According TO edict July IS. with he
exception Of the German Minister,
who was killed by anarchists, with re-
gard to which various measures are
being taken TO punish the guilty par
lies. all the other ministers, 10 whom
strenuous efforts are being made TO al
ford protection are fortunately un-
harmed
Grounds for Confidence.
The dispatches TO Mr.. WI from Chinese
official sources are regarded by some Of
the Government officials as conhrmatOry Of
the authenticity Of the Conger message.
They maintain that while some Of the
doubts raised are reasonable the inGIca-
tions are that the message is authentic
and they prefer so to regard it. Their
grounds for this opinion are briefly as
70 lows:
First-It was in the State Departments
secret cipher
Second-It answered Secretary Hays re-
quest for tidings of Minister Conger's con-
dition.
Third-It puts the Chinese Government.
by its reference to Chinese troops engaged
in the attack. in the attitude Of being re-
sponsible for the attacks on the legations
and of committing hostile acts against all
the European powers, Japan, and the Unit
ed States.
Fourth-It called for quick relief
Fifth-It is at variance with the Chinese
official statements sent out under Pekin
date lines, that the Cover lment was en-
deavoring to protect the foreigners; there
| fore It is net likely that it was forged by
Chinese officials.
Sixth-it bears internal evidence in every
Minister, while all the doubts raised are
purely speculative.
| Secretary Hay and Secretary Root had a
| conference today lasting nearly an hour.
No responses have been received to the
| request to the powers for suggestions as
| to relieving Pekin without delay on the
theory that the CoEger message was au-
/ thentic.
Mr.. Wu ChaErincd.
| Mr.. W. after leaving the State Depart
| ment, expressed ehagrin over the doubts