The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-02-01
Mr.. CONGER DISOBEYE
So Stephen Bonsal, Correspond.
ent, Asserts.
SEVERAL MINISTERS TOLD HIM.

He Describes the Diplomatic situn-
ton In Picking From Information
Said to Have Come From the High
est Foreign officials.
New York, JAM 31.-The Herald pub
fishes the following dispatch from Ste
phen Bonsal, its Picking correspondent:
Several ministers who were present
when the foreign representatives met to
discuss the demands to be made on China
separately described to me the attitude
of the meeting, and, as l have reported,
there is no question that Minister Conger
disobeyed the letter and spirit Of his in
structions throughout.
1T being impossible to combine on a
note, the ministers communicated verbal
ly to the Chinese plenipotentiaries their
demand for the death of Prince Tuan,
Duke Ian and General Tung Fuh Slang.
''At the same time Viceroy Ii Hung
Chang was given to understand that If
the other leaders were promptly and Sc
verely dealt with the death penalty for
Prince Tuan and Duke Ian, who are so
closely related to the emperor, would not
be insisted upon.
What done is best described in
the words of one of the ministers on leav-
ing the council:
Feeble Demand Made.
"'We have demanded the head of
Prince Tuan, mails bien faiblement, and
have told the Chinese that we shall not be
angry if they decline
"The ministers have now acquiesced in
the decision of the Chinese court which
was communicated to them many days
before the demand was made, that Prince
Tuan and Duke Ian would be degraded
and banished but could not be executed.
Regret is generally expressed that the
powers should have proffered demand
which they were not prepared to enforce
and in some quarters there is a tendency
to make denial of the facts, but they oc-
Cured as stated.
"In view of the misapprehension of the
state department, based on the dispatches
of Mr.. Conger, that the question of pun
ishment remains in the hands of the Chi
nese, | will state the situation more fully
than had thought necessary.
"At the meeting six of the ministers
voted for the death penalty for Prince
Tuan and the leaders, four voted for
death, with the condition that they would
not insist on it if the Chinese could not
comply.
"As the minority could not be induced
to sign the sterner demand nine of the
ministers agreed to demand the death
penalty, coupled with the noninsisting
proviso for the benefit of the princes of
the blood, Prince Tuan and Duke Ian.
British Minister Disagreed.
1.-THE British minister, Sir Ernest Sa-
tow, could not adhere because, he stated
he had definite instructions from London
to demand the death penalty and could
not demand less without authority.
"While the Chinese have been informed
verbally and unofficially that the powers
will not insist on impossible punishment,
Sir Ernest Satow has not yet received
authority to moderate the British de-
mand, and, five days having elapsed, the
Germans are hopeful that he will MT re-
ceive it even at the last moment.
''There is a manifest desire, almost a
determination, in some quarters to defeat
the American administration intelligent
and humane policy as to the death penal
ties, and correct official information is alb
solutely necessary.
Twill the department be informed of
the exasperating situation?
'The voting of the ministers was Sc
cret, and it is impossible therefore to say
whether Mr.. Conger voted according t.
his preaching and propaganda of the last
three months or in obedience to his in
structions"