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Show HOPE FOR SAFETY OF LEGATIONS IS RAISED. Minister Conger at Pekln Succeeds In Getting Get-ting a Message to Secretary Hay. , The Chinese minister at Washington, Wo Ting Fang, is a center of official and personal congratulation over the service he has performed for the American Amer-ican government and the American people in opening up communication between United States minister Conger and Washington, and in sweeping aside a mass of horrible reports as to wholesale massacre of American offl-1 ciala and other foreigners. In answer to a dispatch from Secretary Secre-tary Hay, sent several days ago through the Chinese minister, an undated reply has been received, supposed to hare left Pekin the 18th. The message was in cypher and came embodied in a message to the Chinese minister and EDWIN HURD CONGER, by him delivered to the state department. depart-ment. It is as follows: "In British legation. Under continued con-tinued -shot and shell from Chinese troops. Quick relief only can prevent ' general massacre." Though tbe message is short and lacking in detail, it cast a ray of hope.-In hope.-In some quarters the authenticity of the message is questioned. It is argued that Minister Conger failed to destroy the code, which fell into the hands of the Chinese government which is employing em-ploying it to stave off declarations of war until better preparations to meet an invading foe cun be made. This view is not shared by the administration, admin-istration, however. Secretary Hay is perfectly satisfied of the authenticity of the message. "Supposing that the ' Chinese government had obtained possession pos-session of the state department secret code," he said, "it could not be conceived con-ceived what purpose it would serve to represent the urgency of pushing relief forces toward Pekin." The state department officials feel that Mr. Conger, in using the term Chinese troops, meant troops in rebellion rebel-lion against the imperial government, those under Prince Tuan's direction. Furthermore, the officials can not accept ac-cept it as probable that if the Chinese government was attacking the legation itself, it would permit Mr. Conger to advise his own government of that fact. It is further pointed out that the bombardment of which he speaks did " not bogin, according to all accounts, until July 6, although the legations had been besieged and attacked prior to that time, but not with artillery. As a result of the information conveyed, con-veyed, appeals have been sent to all the powers to unite in a speedy and heroic effort to relieve Pekin, and the Ameri. can officials in China have been advised to spare no effort to secure the dispatch of a formidable relief expedition at the earliest possible moment |