Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1900

Mr. Conger to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram—Paraphrase.—Received September 3, 1900. Date lost in transmission.]

Pekin, August 27, 1900.

(Mr. Conger, acknowledging an undated telegram,¹ just received, reports, in reply to—

• Paragraph 2. That they were surrounded constantly by soldiers with Imperial uniforms, flags, and arms, under command of Imperial officers. They saw and conversed with officers and men, who obeyed commands of Imperial officers.
• Paragraph 3. His communications with the Imperial Government were simply receiving and acknowledging Li Hung Chang appointment, and transmitting telegrams. The British minister carried on general correspondence for all, which was chiefly—
• The Chinese Government demanded their departure from Pekin, which was declined. Making mutual agreements to cease firing, which was violated by the Chinese, who promised protection but maintained continual firing.
• Paragraph 4. Imperial Government ordered them from Pekin; made several attempts to ambush them; shelled legations from June 21 to July 17; kept up two months’ firing, and its soldiers attempted to explode mines. For many days after July 17 the Chinese Government stopped severe firing, and sent them, on July 21, three bags of flour, a few watermelons, cucumbers, eggplants, and squashes.

Nothing more—no arms or any other defense—was furnished them.)

1. This telegram is in answer to Mr. Adee’s telegram of August 8, 1900.