Mr. Conger to the Secretary of State.
Peking, China , October 21, 1898 .
Sir: I have the honor to report the arrival at Taku, on the 19th instant, of the cruiser Boston, the gunboat Petrel, and the collier Nero.
On yesterday Captain Wildes came to Peking with instructions from Admiral Dewey to furnish to the legation, either as a temporary or permanent guard, whatever number of marines I deemed necessary.
As already reported, the medical examination of the Emperor and the public knowledge of his life and safety have done much toward allaying the fear of future trouble or disturbance. This fact, in connection with the great concentration of their best soldiers in the vicinity of this capital, makes it reasonably certain that if danger shall come to foreigners here it will be the result of uprisings at distant interior points, and will take considerable time to reach Peking. I do not therefore consider the present necessity for a guard sufficient to order marines here at this time. Besides, our compound is so small and already so crowded that the addition to our number of even a small guard would be very inconvenient and uncomfortable.
I suggested to Captain Wildes that the Petrel might be left at Tangku for the winter, so that in case of unexpected trouble a guard could be quickly brought here; but he thinks the Petrel could not cross the bar at the mouth of river, and that if she could, the admiral would not be willing to fasten a vessel up in the ice there where it could not be used if needed.
However, upon the assurance of Captain Wildes that he will remain in the vicinity of Taku as long as freedom from ice will permit, I have agreed with him that if before that time conditions should change sufficiently for the worse to justify the precautions, I will telegraph him to send up the guards, and I will make preparations to take care of them; otherwise, he may take them with him again to the south.
I have, etc.,