The Atlanta constitution. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, July 30, 1900, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextThe Atlanta Constitution. VOL. xxxni. NO. 31. NEWS FROM CHINA IS UNSATISFACTORY JJ’KiNIIEY GIVES HIS ANSWER Tells Chinese Government We Expect Foreigners To Be Placed in Safety Before Anything Else Is Attempted in Matter. Washington. July 24. —(Spe- cial.) —The formal announce ment made by President McKin ley in the correspondence given out today, that this government is ready to mediate in the inter est of peace in China, provided the Chinese government will meet certain conditions, means that the time has come for the ?7.,peror and the other powers in China to give practical demon stration of the sincerity of their recent utterances. There is little more than this in the president’s letter to the emperor. The pledge he de mands before he uses the friend ly offices of this government are these: 1. To give public assurance whether the foreign ministers are alive, and if so, in what condi tion. 2. To put the diplomatic repre sentatives of the powers in im mediate and free communication with their respective govern ments. and to remove any danger to their lives and liberty 3. To place the imperial au thorities of China in communi cation with the relief expedition, so that co-operation may be se cured between them for the lib eration of the legations, the pro tection of foreigners and the res toration of order. When these obccts are accom plished. then, ami then only, will the president take further steps. These conditions are less drastic than those laid down by I-rance in her reply to a similar request for med'.ation, but it is believed here that if the Chinese officials are sincere these will be suffi cient to bring a prompt end to hostilities and will result in per manent peace. There should certainly be no difficulty in the Chinese acceding to the first two of these requests or conditions, if. as they claim, the members of the legations are safe. As to the third condition, there is more doubt. Owing to the capture of the Taku forts ami the subsequent successful taking of Tien Tsin. the Chinese arc naturally disinclined to put faith in the European governments, and it is very doubtful if there would be such co-operation be tween the imperial ami foreign armies as would hew the way for • O*** •***"•*•***•***• ***************************************** ♦ • * • i • Cz a K<* T ~ k':' b I Vj, I •WI ' 1 1 • V ' 1 ‘il I • „ I ®O®SI • r % r k' • j ffin • I *"- ** • I ’ I • Prince Li llun; Chang bays He Will Protect Foreigner l , but— I the foreigners to get to the Chi nese capital. It is highly proba ble. however, that some way of I attaining the same result could be found. The suggestion that the legation staffs be sent to Tien Tsin would probably be accepted as a solution of the present dan ger as that would Insure the lives of the foreign representatives and an op portunity would then be given for China to solve her own problem of bringing alsiut quiet in her own way. It does not seem to have got through the heads of the Chinese offi cials that the corner stone of this whole j trouble Is their failure to give official assurance of the safety of the represen tatives of foreign governments. No ni..n outside of China can fathom the In tricacies of the Chinese mind. In the present instance the Chinese officials seem to have arguisl that the complete ’ Isolation of the ministers with a refusal Ito allow them to communicate with their governments was the safest course for China to pusue, when, as a matter of fact. It is that course which has given 1 rise to the greater part of Chinese trou bles. Emperor’s Letter Beyond Doubt. There Is a natural tendency to doubt the authenticity of everything which comes out of China at this time, but there Is no legitimate reason to believe that this letter from the emperor to the president of the I’nlted States did not come from the Chinene government. It came through the proper channels and there is every reason to believe that It was inspired by the representations of Minister Wu as to the absolute fairness ami friendliness of this government. The fact that China regards the United States as her best friend among the pow ers of the world lends Importance to this act of the emperor in seeking to have President McKlniey take the Initiative In bringing about a concert of the powers for the restoration of order and peace. The president's reply taken as a whole st ems to say "we arc not doubting your word alioilt the safety of everybodj. nor your siiu.-rlty in what you say, but you have got to prove It. Ue are will ing to help you. but you have got to . make the way clear.'' It is th.- opinion In official circles here that a prompt acceptance by the Chinese ‘ emperor of the first two of these condi tions ought to greatly clarify the atmo sphere. It is. of course, of paramount importance that communication should at once be «»|»eiied Irtween foreign ministers and their governments, it is only through direct communications from these otli < lais that the different governments will feel satisfied of the conditions existing in Pekin and only after communication with them that these governments will Im* in a jmsltion to act. If the Chinese emperor and his advisors can get these through their heads, the prospects of leave will become real. The correspomlence between tho two governments resulting in the indicated d.< re. by President McKinley was given out at the state department today, and beginning with a translation of a cable grant received by Minister Wu on July ”■>. 1»«>. from the tao-tal of Shanghai, i dated July 19. I>"J, is as follows: "Having r< celved a telegram from Gov ernor Yuan of Shang Tung, dated 22d day of this moon (July 19th), who, having received from the privy council at Pe kin. a dispatch embodying an imperial letter to the president of the I'rdted Stat-s has instructed me to transmit it to your excellency. The imperial mes- sage Is respectively transmitted as fol lows: . _ , " ‘The Emperor of China to Tils Excel lency. the President of the I nited States*—Greeting: China has long nvain tained friendly relations with the I nited States and Is deeply conscious that tne object of the United States is Interna tional commerce. Neither country en tertains the least suspicion or .listrust toward the other. Recent outbreaks or mutual antipathy between the people and Christian missions caused the for eign powers to view with suspicion the position of the Imperial government, as lavorable to the people and PrejudicUl to the missions, with the result that Taku forts were attacked and <aptut' ■ Consequently there has been clashing of forces with calamitous consequences. The situation h l ert \, bt c l orn Vv_ have Just highly to'as toTslrn that the I'nl rd Stites government, having .n view the friendly relations Ute two countries, has t.ikjn ad< I .. . I tn the present «V Ui '\‘n t/ course of driven by the irresistible < ourse ot I events, has unfortunately ’j; 1 I nigh unltersal indignation, bor s. ttllng 'the pr. -ent difficulty. Chma places s P-- clal reliance In the I nited State- Me I address this mesAage to >." ur e ’E'.T.J C ’. , v’ in all sincerity and eamltdm w 1 th hope that ) out < xcell. ncj- x 1 measures and take the initiative in bringing about a concert of the powers forth - restoration of order and pence. The favor of a kind reply Is earnestly 1 requested, am! awaited with the greatest I * "Kwang Hsu. 26th year, sixth moon, I <J ther< l t'or l . : "*my duty to transmit the above, with the request that your excellence. in respectful obedience ol Imperia! wishes, will deliver the same to Us high destination and favor-me with reidv YU LIEN 1< Erx. "Tao-Tai of Shanghai. "Kwang Hsu. 26th year, sixth moon, 23d day (July 1!'. This cablegram was at once commu nlcaled to the president at Canton, and the following is his reply: “The President of the United States to the Emp-f-r of China— Greeting: I h ive re.-- ived your majesty’s message of the 19th of July and am glad that your majesty recognises tne fact that the government and people ot the I nited Stites de-lre of Chilli nothing but what Is at .1 . q iltubb Th< purpos lor which w. land..! troops In China was I the rescue of our l.gation from grave i danger and the protection of the lives and property of Americans who were ‘ sojourning in China in the enjoyment of rights guaranteed them by treaty and bv International law. The same pur poses are publicly declared by all the ; imwers which h:iv„ landed military farces in your majesty's etrfdre. , i “I am to Infer from your majesty s let , ter that the malefactors who have dis- I turhe.| the peace of China, who have i murdered the minister of Germany and a i member ol the Japanese legation, and Who now hold besieged in l'.‘kin those i foreign diplomatists who still survive, I have not only not received any favor or I encourage inert from your majesty, bit I are actually In rebellion against the im perial authority. If this lie the ease. I most soli mnly urge upon vour majesty s government to give public assurance whether the foreign ministers are alive, ' and. if so, in what condition. “To put the diplomatic representatives ; of the powers in Immediate and free I communication with their representative i governments, and to remove all danger : to their Ilves and liberty. “To place the imperial authorities of j China in communication with the relief {expedition. so that co-operation may be | secured between them tor the liberation ' of the legations, tile protection of for eigners and the re toratiop of order. If these objects are accomplished. It Is the Is-lief of this government that no oh tael's will be found to exist on the ' par- of tlie powers to an amicable set tlement of all the questions arising out ■ of the recent troubles, and the friendly ■ good offices of this government will, with the assent of tho other powers, be i ch« t rfu’ly placed at your majesty's dts , position for that purpose. "WILLIAM M* KINLEY. "July 23. 1900. "By the President: "JOHN HAY. Secretary of State.” I CHINESE EDICT IS GIVEN OUT. Minister Wu Delivers to Secretary Hay a Paper. I Washington. July 23.—The state depart ment has made public the following text of an edict delivered today by Minister { Wu to Secretary Hay. This is the edict referred to by United States Consul Fowler, at Che Foo. in his message re ceived here yesterday: “An imperial edict: issued on the first day of the sixth moon (July 17th), trans mitted by tiie Viceroy Liu Kun Yili on the 20th of July, and received by .Min ister Wu on the 21st of July at 7 o'clock: “Th" present conflict between China and the foreign powers had its origin in the long-standing antagonism between - the people and Chri-tian missions. Tho | subsequent fall of the Taku torts pre ' clpitated the meeting of force with force. I Tin- imperial government, having duo re ' gani to the importance ot international We have already repeatedly issued de crees providing for the protection of the I foreign legations and also commanded tlin provisional authorities to protect mis sionaries. Inasmuch as there is still no Intercourse, still refused to go so far as to interrupt the existing relations, cessation in the employment of force, foreign nn rchants and subjects residing In China, who form a numerous body in the country, should be protected without distinction. Me hereby command all tho Tartar generals, governors general and governors of provinces to look after the foreign merchants and missionaries living In the open ports, prefectures, depart ments and districts under their respec tive Jurisdiction, ami to afford them due protection In accordance with treatv stipulations without fail Last month we heard, with profound astonishment and regret, of the killing of the chancel lor of the Japanese legation. Mr. Akira, and the same fate befell the German minister shortly afterwards. Tho vio lent removal of the German minister, whose residence at the capital was nec essary to tho transaction of business be tween the two countries, affected us very deeply. It is the duty of the au thorities concerned to cause stringent orders for the speedy arrest and punish ment of the murderers to be carried out. "Since tho commencement of the at tack in Tien Tsin there are foreign sub jects and missionaries who have, on ac count of local disturbances, suffered d<-ath or loss of property through no fault of their own. We hereby com mand Hu- governor of Pekin and the viceroy of Chi Li to cause investigations to b<- made by their ri-sja-i tlve subordi nates of all such claims, except those arising directly from the said attack, : with a view to their ultimate settlement. Moreover, local outlaws and rebellious sub.i-< ts have of late given themselves up to burning, killing and plundering to the great disquiet of our loyal subjects. 1 lids is an utter di fiance of law. Wo hereby command the said governors g. neral. the governors and commanders of our forces, to invi tig ate the situation and io take such miasuits for the I punishment of the offenders and rcstora- I tlon of pi a< i- as the noct ssities of the l case demand. W« hereby command this. ATLANTA, GA., MONDAY, JULY 30, 1900. our general edict, to be made known for the information of all it may con cern. Respect this.” A significant statement in tho above edict is noted in that passage which directs an investigation of all claims "except tln'se arising directly from the said attack (attack on Tien Tsin) with a view to their ultimate settlement." This appears to make plain not only that the Chinese government will settle claims for actual losses, but that It has now formally decreed an exception of those claims arising directly from the attack on Tien Tsin. It seems to in dicate that the Chinese government holds that the attack on Tien Tsin was unwar ranted. _ TO PROTECT MISSIONARIES. Li Hung Chang 1 Says They Will Be Furnished Escort. SHANGHIA, July 21.—A general rising throughout China Is now regarded as so absolutely certain that all the missionaries throughout the empire have been ordered to take refuge without de lay either at Shanghai or Hong Kong. Refugees are beginning to arrive from all jtnlnts In the most pitiable condition. “As the result of a correspondence with the governor of Shan Tung, Li Hung Chang today announced that the imperial government was pre pared at any moment to give a safe convoy to the members of the foreign legations from Pekin to Tien Tsin, providing a guarantee was given that no advance would be made upon the capital, and that all matters in dis pute between China and the powers would be made the subject of friend ly negotiations. In the same communication to the con suls. Enrl 1.1 stated that the Imperial government had submitted to the pow ers a statement of its ,position, declaring that It had suffered greatly by recent events, but desired not only to suppress rebellion, but also to remove tho causes of tho hostility of foreign powers. There fore he hoped that the offer to escort tho foreigners to Tien Tsin would be re garded ns an earnest desire of tho Chi nese government for the renewal of friendly relations. The consuls replied that no basis for friendly negotiations vas possible until proof was at hand that the ministers were still living. Consul Warren declin ed to discuss the matter at all, but in his reply to the French consul, Li Hung Chang undertook to oh: in a satisfactory message from tho l-. ach minister (M. I’lnchon) within tlve days. Fear of Southern Uprising. It Is believed that another two or three weeks must elapse before the Chlnese preparations are completed. It is report ed that 3.000 Chinese troops and more guns aro is-Jng sent to re-enforce the garrison of tho Kiang Yin forts, commanding the entrance of the Vung-tse-kiang, ninety miles east <>l Nunkin. Chang (.'hi Lung, viceroy of Wu Chang, on tho mng-tse-kiang. telegraphs that ho is apprehensive that he will not be able to restrain Ills troops fro more than an other ten days. He says that he has thrown br<ech blocks of the guns com manding H in Kow into the river. These signs of unrest in the southern provinces are coincident with LI Hung Chang’s presence in Shanghai. They are supposed to be the beginning of a general declaration against foreigners. In thia connection the Canton correspondent of The Daily Teh graph, wiring Tuesday, sends the following important news: "Viceroy Tak Su today published the following mandate: " 'An important imperial decree was Is sued on the 23d day of the sixth moon. It > " 'We have lost Tien Tsin and great precautions are taken In I’ekln. No peace can be obtained without going through a war. in the time of Chung an agreement was made that no mur u r can be inflicted upon ministers Hom abroad. It is a month since the minister of Germsny was assassinated bv Isixirs and strict orders have been given for the atrest of the murderers. We are trying our u;most to preserve the lives of the other ministers and th. y are still in I’ekln. We fear that the viceroys and governors may mis understand the intention of the de cree, relying on the safety of theso ministers, as a ground for making ji. ace. and taking no heed whatever to jir< jiare lor attack and defense. Tho neglect to fortify the districts under tlieir jurisdiction will bring endless calamity Viceroys and governors aro to pay all atti ntion to and to urge on preparations for coast attack and de fense. and they are to take the conse quences in ease of any territory being lost entirely through their delay and mismanagement.’ "Europeans here understand thorough iv the last part of the . diet, which means that the viceroys and governors are com manded by the empress dowager to pre pare for a Chin’ sc war against the allied powers. Viceroy Tak Su Is bitterly anti forelgn. and he is increasing his army and armaments, military and marine. He has lodged an objection through tiie prefect of Kwang Chou to four small gunboats, two French, one American ami one Brit ish. that are here to safeguard the lives of foreigners, and he asks that they be moved beyond the Bogtie forts.” England Will Not Mediate. Ixndon. July 25. Lord Salisbury today notified the United States ambassador that it was impossible to accept the evi dence so far submitted by the Chinese or that transmitted by the United States regarding the safety of the foreign minis ters at I’ekln. and that until their safety was thoroughly established the British government would be unable to discuss any question of mediation or kindred mat- • FAMINE FEARED AT TIEN TSIN. Thousands of Chinamen Without Means of Support. Shanghai. Monday, July 23.—The follow ing dispatch from the Associated Press correspondent at Tien Tsin reached here today, having been delayed twenty days In transmission: Tien Tsin. Tuesday. July 3.-Famine and jiestilence are sure to strike the region ot Tien Tsin soon. Hundreds of thousands of chit amen are leaving their homes in tin districts where lighting Is going on. without means of support. Li< ut' nant Colonel John S. Mallory, of the 1-oiu .-tirst United States infantry, has arrived here to act as military observer. The American and British commanders lor have established a ecm-, irsliip of ciu'r- spond*uits of those nationalities, to pr< vent th* transmission of reports that might tend to kindle International ani mosities. Th.- antl-Russtan prejudices of certain of the English corresi>ondents caused this action. T.T agrees to send message. Viceroy Assures French Consul His Minister Is Safe. Paris. Julv 25—12:30 a. m.—M. Delcasse, minister of foreign affairs, has received a telegram from the French coi sul at Shanghai, dated July 23<i. which says: “Li Hung Chang has just assured me that M. Plchon, French minister to China, is living and he has agreed to transmit to him a message from me requesting a reply within five days.” WILL HOLD RAILVZAY LINE. Russians and Britons Are Not of the Same Opinion. Tlon Tsin. Julv 21.—The Russians an nounce their intention to keep control of the entire railway line between Taku and Pekin until the conclusion of hostilities, when they purpose, they say. to restore it to the Chinese. Admiral Seymour strong ly disapproves of allowing them to repair tho line beyond Tlcn Tsin. He considers that th o British should insure the under taking and conduct the repairs. Mean while the French are endeavoring to ob tain control of all the river tugs. It is believed that they Intend to share the control with Russia. GERMAN MINISTER IS BITTER. Von Buelow Receives Kwang Hsu’s Appeal for Mediation. Berlin. July 24.—Count von Bue-low, the minister of foreign affairs, made a reply today to the appeal of the emperor of China for German mediation between the powers and the Chinese government In substance Count von Buelow said he would not submit the. telegram from the I’ekln government so long as the fate of the legations and other foreigners In China were not ascertained and so long as the Chinese government had not atoned for the murder of the ilerman minister at I’ekln, Baron von Ketteler, and given guarantees that in future its conduct will be In harmony with International law and the usage* or civilization. SHENG PROMISES AN ESCORT. Chinese Director General Wires the Government’s Plan. Washington, July 24.—The Chinese min ister received a dispatch this morning from Sheng, the director of railroads and telegraphs at Shanghai, stating that the foreign ministers are to be sent from I’ekln to Tien Tsin under escort. The Sheng telegram was made public at the state department In the following state ment: "Minister Wu visited the state depart ment this morning and hand'd to the act ing secretary of state the foilowing text of a cable message, explaining that it was a cablegram from Director General Sheng at Shanghai, dated July 23. 1900. to the Chinese minister at Ijondon. by whom it had teen transmitted to Minister Wu and received bv the latter on the night of the same day. "News from Pekin of 22d day of sixth moon, corresponding to July JSth, says Wen Jul. by direction of the tsting !'■ yatnen. went to see the various foreign ministers and found not one of tin in harmed. Jung Lu proposes to memorialize the Imperial government to supply tlr m with provisions at once and then de vise plan to detail troops to escort them to Tien Tsin.” This communication accords with the publication made in Ixindon yesterday and printed lu the American newspapers ot this morning. THTE RUSSIANS LOSE HEAVILY. General Urodekoff’s Men Short of Ammunition. St. Petersburg. July 24.—A dispatch which has been received here from Gen eral Grodekoff at Kahabarovsk, dated July 22d. reports that the steamer odes sa, which left Charbin July 16th. brought tidings of the Russian force that left Telln July 7th en route to Charbin. It appears that 200 men started with a largo convoy of Chinese Christians, wo men anil children. After constant fight ing, which was often at close quarters and with the bayonet, they were again attacked by the boxers July 12th. The Russians lost heavily and ran short of ammunition. At last accounts they were threatened by 15,(100 boxers. Engineer Jugovitch, at Charbin, had found It Impossible to send efficient help as he required all available forces to de fend Charbin, which place contained thousands of unarmed employees, with their families, who have been concentrat ed from along many sections of the rail way. General Grodekoff considers the sltua tlon as bad. Attacks are daily threaten ed and rebels and marauders are running over Manchuria. The general says the local governors have little authority, and that fanatics dominate the situation. ENGLAND SEES NO HOPE. Thinks the Chinese Are Simply Play ing for More Time. Txrndon, July 26, 4 a. m.—Mr. Conger’s letter, the substance of which has been transmitted to the United States secretary of the navy through Captain Thomas, has Increased the belief in London that there Is no hope for the foreign legations in I’ekln anil that the elaborate fabric of dispatches which the Chinese are building to persuade the civilized world that the ministers are still alive is only intended to enable them to gain time to complete pre parations for warfare. The Shanghai correspondent of Tho Daily Mail asserts that a Chinaman who was employed at tho British legation as a writer and interpreter, has escaped from I’ekln to Niu Chwang, and that lie de clares that at the time he left Pekin most of tiie members of the legations were dead and the condition of the others was hope less. He says that Sir Robert Hart, di rector of Chinese imperial maritime customs, died on July 2d. The correspondent goes on to say: "No other dates are given in the mes sage from Niu Chwang. Tiie leading Chi nese newspaper here published yesterday a dispatch declaring that it was all over witli the members i f the legations. The president of a minor board at Pekin wrote to a relative in Shanghai, under date of July I'th. saying: " ’The foreign ligations an still un captured. but owing to tiie daily lighting it is reported that only about 300 persons ASSASSIN TAKES LIFE OF HUMBERT THEKING OF ITALY Monza, italy, July 30. < —King Humbert has been assassinated. lie : was shot here last evening at 10:45 o’clock by a man named Angelo Bressi, and died in a few minutes. The king had been attending a distrbution of prizes in connection with a gymnastic competition which took place about io o’clock. • He had just entered his carriage ; with his aid-de-camp, amid the ' cheers of the crowd, when he was I struck by three revolver shots fired in quick succession. One ’ pierced the heart of his majesty, I 1 who fell back and expired in a few minutes. 1 The assassin was Immediately arrested j and was with some difficulty saved from ; the fury of the populace. He gave his j name as Angelo Bressi. describing himself ■as of Prato, In Tuscany. A dispatch , \ from Rome says Bressi is an anarchist. Humbert was the eldest son of Victor I Emanuel and on the death of his father, I in IS7B. succeeded to the throne. He was ' ; liked by his subjects and was popular. Cabinet Meeting- Summoned. Rome. July 30. 3 a. m.—The news of the I terrible event did not arrive here until ’ midnight. Signor Saracco, the premier, i Immediately sumoned a meeting of the i are left alive in the legations, and If there ' I is any delay in the arrival of the relief force 1 fear that none will be left to re ! ceive It ’ "This letter is r' gardi d In Shanghai ns authentic. Strange enough, it says noth- I Ing of any assistance to the legations by j , Prince Ching or General Lung Lu." ; While these brief sidelights as to the fate of tho loeatlonors leave little ground for hope. Shanghai sends a batch of re ports Indicative of preparations for hos- I tillties on the part of the Chinese. It Is 1 i alleged that the Yang Tse viceroys have i sent deputies to Shanghai to inquire as to i the prospect of raising a foreign loan, os i tensibly to pursue military operations j against tho boxers, whose movement is , I extending rapidly southward with con- ' : stantly growing strength and has reached j I a point where tho provinces of Shan Tung. I Ho Nan and Shan Si meet, leaving behind . It a trail of burned missions and mur ‘ dered Christians. i DO NOT DOUBT WU’S DISPATCH. Washington Officials Seem To Think It Very Unpatriotic. Washington. July 25. —i‘Speclal.l State, 1 war nnd navy depnrtm"nt officials here regard the message received from Cap tain Thomas, acting commander of the I American fleet In the absence of Admiral I Remoy, at Tien Tsin. as paving the way for confirmation of the dispatch received I I through Mr. Wu from Minister Conger. I A prominent state department official, tn { j discussing the subject of the authenticity of the Conger i«pher dispatch, said: "It Is unreasonable and unpatriotic for • ••• • ••’ •**«•«•••<••• *•* • «•*•■•*•*•••■•<•••'••••• » • •«• • ••« •>•••*•■• *•• • ■•* • «•* • *•> ,-- ■ ' ■•■* 1 » » J \ 3b I®! HI i LX<J i o i t_-Z T ♦ This Is the Way Situation Looks to Prince Tuan and the Boxers. * PKICE: FIVE CENTS. |T*’ e -•*•*•*•* ***** * * ! ; I l; lx i ! I IT • • KING HUMBERT. 1 cabinet and the ministers will start at I the earliest possible moment for Naples, j The prince and princess of Naples are on board the Yela. yachting in the Levant Beloved by His People. I Kansas City. Mo.. July 30.—Jerome Fe- I deli, Italian vice consul in Kansas City. | was greatly shocked when he learned of the assassination of King Humbert, of Italy. "King Humbert was greatly be loved by his people,” said Mr. Fedell, I "and I cannot conceive why any one. but ' a crank or an anarchist should wish tc I take his life. He was good and kind and I charitable. I knew him well. He will be succeeded. In all probability, by his oldest son ,the Prince of Naples, who Is a young man not yet thirty years old.” ' some of the newspapers of the country j to ridicule the dispatch, which Mr. Wu assures us Is genuine. It would bo bet i ter for them to hold ofl ur.ti the sltua ! tlon Is finally cleared up. and it Is my ■ opinion that there will be cause for many '■ of them to change their minds, and ' probably this will come in a few days' time. I prefer to accept Mr. Hay's judg ment of the dispatch to my own. He I knows what he asked Minister Conger and he says the message received an | swers In every detail his dispatch. Os course the dispatch was not given out i exactly as It came In the cipher code, I because if this were done a telegraph 1 operator could compare the dispatch as It came In the cipher with the transla | tlon and thus gain control of the sa- I cred code. It Is even very likely there , were some points in tho dispatch which , were not given to the public. as Secre tary Hay might have considered them i Immaterial or too important to be known | publicly. "Another point which I regard as fa ' vorable to the authenticity of the mes i sage, the Chinese government, If it was I desirous of keeping secret the massacre ' of the ministers, would not have made I answer at all to Mr. Wu's urgent appeal. ' By so doing it Is very probable the re- ■ lief column, which is preparing to march : to the rescue of foreigners, would not have been disp itched as soon as it Is i now proposed to send It. and. therefore, i the death of the ministers would not , be found out in so short a time by the ’ allied forces. Then It Is very probable j that if. as some jieaple suggest, the mes-

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The Atlanta constitution. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, July 30, 1900, Image 1