The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-30
BLAIR MAY GO TO JAPAN.
MINISTER DENBY MAY RzMAIN IN
TIE CELEsTIAL KINGDOM

IbE CELE>IJAL KINGDOM.
The Rejection Not to be Made an Ex-
cuss for a Diplomatic Rupture-A
Talk With the Chinsse Minister on
the Subject-Men This Country Has
Rejected.
WASHINGTON. April GA representa-
tive of the Associated Press this morning
sailed at the Chinese legation here and had
an interview with Minister Yen in regard
to the Discrimination of his government to
receive Senator Blair as the accredited rem
resentative of the United States Mr.. Yen
said, through an interpreter, that he had
received a cablegram from the
Chinese foreign Office, which he was
Instructed to lay before Secretary Blaine
without delay, expressing the unwillingness
of the emperor to receive Senator Blair.
Other than this Mr.. Yen had received no
INSTRUCT Dns written or otherwise from his
government on the subject. The exact
language Of the cablegram or whether the
reasons for this action were given, Mr.. Yen
declined to state.
WELL LIKED II THE MINISTER.
Personally he had a very high opinion of
Senator Blair. He had met him several
times and had always found him to be a
very courteous gentleman. When Senator
Blair was nominated for minister to China
MIR. Yen was in Peru, to which government
he is also the representative of China. and
he did not return TO the United States until
early in the present month. He had never
had occasion to ascertain what had been
Senator Blair's attitude toward China
Or the Chinese residents in this country, and
not until his return had the senator's utter
ances on the Chinese question, as reported
In the Congressional Record, been brought
to his attention. The minister conveyed an
impression that he had simply stated the
facts to his government, and aside from
that had not sought to influence its
decision, either favorablv to the senator or
unfavorably. This action of the Chinese
authorities has not created the least excite
ment here, as it had been anticipated by
many from the first. The proceeding is not
q very unusual one, and cannot be construed
as indicating an unfriendly feeling toward
this government.
BLAINE WILL RAISE NO ROW.
Secretary Blaine is quoted as saying to-
day that nothing will be done by the ad-
mInistration about China's rejection of
Senator Blair unless President Harrison di-
rects that some action be taken. The Japa-
nese mission is vacant and Senator Blair
may be given this as a consolation. Posi-
bly, Minister Denby may now be allowed to
remain as minister to China, and the secre-
tary OF the Chinese legation said Of him to-
day: Gen. Denby is the most popular
American who has represented this govern
ment at our court since the late Mr.. Bur
lingame."
GENERAL RETICENCE.
Among departmental officials, there is
general indisposition to discuss the subject
OF Senator Blair's rejection. Still it is evil
ue1t that there is no general desire to mag
Nifty the incident into the proper
tons OF diplomatic rupture. 1t is
a long established rule of diplomacy that
nation is not obliged to accept o
minister who is not persona grdta, and
that rejection on that account is not to be
construed into an intended affront to the
dignity Of the nation which sends the min
lister. The United States hesitated for a
long time TO fully indorse this rule, and
showed some resentment when the Austrian
government during the last administration
asked that Minister Kelly be not sent to
Austria as United States minister
THE sACKvILLE-wEsT INCIDENT.
But about the time Of the Sackville-W West
episode the United States became an enthu-
siastic adherent of the policy that nation
is not bound to receive or retain foreign
minister who is not acceptable TO its people.
Then, too, there Is a lingering recollection
of the fact that the United States had, about
the time of the French revo-
luton, sent home representa-
tive of tie French republic because
he had made himself obnoxious to the people
of the United States. in this case the de-
mand for the minister's recall was rather
peremptory and we did not show the con-
sideration manifested by the Chinese gov
ernment in refraining from an absolute
rejection of Minister Blair, and simply
stating that his coming to China in
the capacity of United States minis
ter would not be entirely agreeable to the
government of that country. Altogether
the opinion in official circles is general that
the United States is. by its own conduct,
stopped from resenting Minister Blair's re-
lection and that, after waiting for length
of time sufficient to maintain the national
dignity, new minister will be appointed
by President Harrison.
BLAIR WAS ON HIS WAY.
CHICAGO. April 29.-Ex- United States
Senator Blair, who arrived in Chicago this
morning en- route to China, will return to
Washington tomorrow. Tonight he re-
ceived dispatch from Secretary Blaine
containing nothing but a request TO that
effect