The sun., 1901-02-25
MR.. CONGER
COMING HOME
Has Sixty Days Leave and Prob
ably Won't Return.
MAY RUN FOR GOVERNOR
representative Hull Cabled Him He
Could Get Nomination in Iowa If
He Desired w. Rockhill
in Charge at Peking.

Washington, Feb. 24.-Minister Con-
ger will leave Peking Immediately Tor
this country on 60 days leave or aD-
sence. Commissioner RockhiH VIII
have full power to conduct the nego-
tiations now in progress. Mr.. Conger
returns of his own initiative. For
some time past he has been anxious to
get back to Iowa, but the opportunity
has not presented itself until this mo-
ment. Now that the foreign ministers
have satisfactorily settled the question
of punishments of the offending Chi
nese officials and new subject is to
be taken up, it will be easy to pass
the negotiations into Mr.. Rockhlifs
hands without sacrificing any points.
1t was Mr.. Conger's own suggestion
that Mr.. Rockhill be placed in charge.
Mr.. Conger's return will be a RELIEF
to the administration. At times the
administration has been greatly con-
cerned by his conduct in the negotia-
tions. At the same time the president
| has not wished to recall Mr.. Conger,
preferring that he should indicate his
| desire to leave Peking. Representa-
tive Hull Of Iowa gave Mr.. Conger the
opportunity by cabling him that he
could probably have the nomination
| for governor from the Republicans OF
that state. Mr.. Conger cabled in re-
ply that he would be willing to be the
candidate provided that he did not
have to enter into a scramble for the
nomination. So the administration has
Mr.. Hull to thank for providing loop
hole for a change at Peking.
Mr.. Conger has not resigned. nor has
he given any sign that he will do SO.
But even should he care to return 1t Is
. doubtful if the administration would
be willing to allow him. He is un-
fortunately filed with memories OF the
siege, and his course throughout the
negotiations has been toward extreme
S severity rather than toward strict
e Justice, as desired by the president
n and Secretary Hay.
EoeKDfII n Good Man-4
The next 60 days may see the end
. of the Negotiations, but officials would
;, not be surprised if they should last
: for months. 1t Is therefore to the in
). terest of the administration to have In
Picking a man like Mr.. Rockhill, whose
tact, experience and impersonal desire
to secure the best solution of the Chi
Il nese question possible promise the re
IT suits the administration seeks.
y Mr.. Rockhill was to have left Chinf
y when navigation opened and expected
te to resume his duties as director OF thu
i bureau Of American republics. He ant
!; Mr.. Conger have failed to work to
u u gether harmoniously, the minister Civ
- ing interpretations to instruction
- which Mr.. Rockhill thought impossi
Bile. Mr.. Rockhill has been a studen
of China for years and is acquainte
with the Chinese language.
Some surprise has been eXpresse
o. that the president did not order MI
ne Conger home when the legations wer
he relieved. He was given an opportunit
to leave, but stated at the time thf
4. he preferred to remain. Many misgi'
;n' ings were felt at that time as to h
,et retention. The authorities have NJ
ter forgotten the mistake made by him
in; December in securing the restoratio
rs of the word "irrevocable" in the pr
nix liminary protocol which the presidel
ct; and Secretary Hay, after energet
1r. work. had succeeded in eliminatiI
lar from the document.