Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-30
SENATOR BLAlR'S CASE,
The IndisposItion of China to Receive
Him as Minister.
fBy telegraph % the Dispatch.

10y htitEiOpb W INC DlSDHtcn.l
WASHINGTON, April pa representative
OF the Associated Press this morning
called az the Chinese Legation here ana had an
interview with Minister Yen in regard to the dis
Inclination OF his Government TO receive Senator
bar az the accredited representative Of the
United States.
Mr.. Gon said, through an INTERPRETER that ho
had received a cablegram from the Chinese For
eign ONCE, which he was instructed 70 lay before
secretary Blaine without delay, expressing the
nnwillingness OF the Emperor 70 receive Mr..
Blair. Other than this Mr.. Yen had received no
Instructions written or otherwise. from his Cow
eminent on the subject. The exact language Of
the cablegram, or whether the reasons for this
action were given, Mr.. Yen declines 20 state.
Personally he had very high opinion Of Senator
Blair. He had met him several times and al
ways found him 20 be very courteous gentle
man.
At tho time Senator Blair was nominated Min
ister TO China Mr.. Yen was in Peru, TO which
Government he il also accredited as representa-
vi early in the present month. Ho had never
had occasion 20 ascertain what had been Senator
Blairs attitude toward China or Chinese resi-
dents In this country, and not until his return
had the Senator's utterances on the Chinese
question, as reported In the Congressional Record,
been brought 10 his attention. The Minister con-
yeyed the impression that he had simply stated
facts 10 his Government, and aside from that
had not sought to influence its decision either
favorably % the Senator or unfayoraby.
This action Of the Chinese authorities has not
created the least excitement here, ns IL had been
anticipated by many from the first. The pro-
ceecing Is not very unusual cne and cannot be
construed as indicating an unfriendly feeling to-
ward this Government
THB L. S. NOT IN POSITION TO GET MAD.
WASHINGTON, April 29.--Among departmental
officers there is general indispostion 20 discuss
the subject Of Mr.. Blair's rejection. Still 1t II
evident that there is no general desire TO mag
nifty the incident Into the proportions Of diplo-
matte rupture. IL Is long-established rule OF
diplomacy that nation is not Obliged 20 accept
q Minister who Is not persona gTdtG, and that n
into an intended aifrOnt 10 the dignity Of the
nation which sonds the Minister.
The United States hesitated for q long time 20
fully endorse this rule and showed some resent
ment when the Austrian government, during the
last administration, asked that Minister Kelley
be not sent TO Austria as United States Minister.
But about the time Of the Sackville-West episode
the United States became an enthusiastic adhe-
rent Of the policy that nation IL not bound 10
receive or retain a foreign Minister who Is not
acceptable TO its people. Then, too, there was a
lingering recollection OF the fact that the United
States had about the time OF the French revolu-
tion sent home the representative cf the French
republic because he had mGde himself obnoxious
10 the people Of the United States.
In these cases the demand for the Minister'S
recall was rather peremptOry and we did not
show the consideration manifested by the
Chinese Government In refraining from an abso-
Lutte rejection Of Minister Blair and simply
stating that his coming 20 China IN the capacity
Of United States Minister would not be entirely
agreeable to the Government Of that country.
Altogether, the opinion In Official circles If gen.
eral that the United States Is 10y its own conduc,
estopped from resentng Minister Blair's reiec-
tion, aud that after waiting for length OF time
sufficient 10 maintain the national dignity new
Minister viii be appointed by President Harri-
son.
Mr. BLAIR TO RETURN.
CHICAGO, April 29.-Ex-United States Sen ator
Harry w. Blair who arrived IN Chicago this
morning en- route to China, viii return to Wash
ington tomorrow. Tonight he received n dis
patch from Secretary Blaine containing nothing
but a request to that effect.