The record-union., 1891-05-22
Special to the REcoRp-uN1ox.


WASHINGTON, May ia special to
the Post this morning from New York
states that Colonel Shepard of the Mail
Express, who was instrumental in secur-
ing Blair's appointment as Minister to
China, gave dinner night before last, at
which the Chinese Minister, accompanied
by the Chinese Consul of New York,
Shen Woon, his interpreter, Shung Yu
Ting, Yerk Lin Lew and Eugene De-
mitkiewitz were present. Besides the
Chinese visitors at dinner were Ulysses
s. Grant. Jr., Emmons Blaine, Jesse
Seligman, Edmund G. Converse and
Logan c. Murray.
1t was stated positively that Shepard
had given this dinner to curry favor with
the Chinese diplomats, and get their con-
sent to receive Blair, and that they had
succeeded in the plan.
Your correspondent called at the Chi
nese Legation to-day, and found the Chi
nese Minister quite willing to talk about
the matter, through his accomplished in
terpreter, Mr.. Ho.
Said the Minister: "The Post Dispatch
prints the names of both parties, and
Colonel Shepard'S dinner correctly, eX-
cept you may say that Shing You Ting
is not connected with our legation. 1t is
very important to say that some time
ago l received word from China that
Minister Blair would not be acceptable
to our people, and when [ communicated
it to MIR. Blaine [ was informed that as
soon as President Harrison returned
from his Western trip he would take
some action concerning the appointed
Minister. Since then | have heard moth
ing concerning the matter, either from
Mr.. Blaine or from my own Government.
Several days ago | went to New York,
partly on private business and partly TO
see MIR. Blaine, who was too i'll to be seen,
so l was content to converse pleasantly
with Mrs. Blaine. | went to Colonel
Shepard'S dinner. at which there was not
q word spoken by Colonel Shepard, EN-
mons Blaine, banker Sehgman or myself,
or anyone else, concerning Mr.. Blair.
Those gentlemen must all of them have
been intelligent enough to know that |
am only go-between. and am here only
to carry out China's wishes. | could have
no influence one way or the other"
us it true, as reported in the newspa-
pers, that China was dissatisfied with
Minister Blair on account Of his speech
concerning your countrymen?"
YES" said he, ION account of speeches
made by him on the 9th, TIN and 18th of
October, 1888, in the Senate
The Minister repeated several times
that he was only an agent, and could have
nothing whatever to do toward accepting
Mr.. Blair as Minister to China Though
he did not say so, it is probable that the
Minister entertained a lurking suspicion
that the New York dinner party was
given as a piece of diplomacy. He was
anxious that ii should be known that he
could not interfere with China's determi-
nation not to accept Blair.
HE MAY YET GO TO CHINA.
New YORK, May p. - The WorZeI,s
Washington special says: It is among the
possibilities that ex-senator Henry w
Blair may yet go to China as Minister
Plenipotentiary. Blair said the other day
that he did not expect to remain in Wash
ington long, and Assistant Secretary
Chandler of New Hampshire in speaking
about the matter to-day, had this to saw:
1t Is by no means settled that Blair
will not go to China. he has not vet seen
the President in regard to the matter.
and there is possibility that everything
may yet end well. Blair was asked to
come to Washington by the State Depart
ment, although he got as far as Chicago
on his journey. Ifit can be shown to the
Chinese Government that there was no
personal enmity as regards Blair's posi-
ton on the Chinese question, then there
is no reason why he should not eyentu-
ally 90 there as Minister. The fact is that
Blair was one of the most conservative
Senators, and the Congressional Record
viii show that he favored a treaty being
made with Chinese Government prior to
the passage Of the Chinese exclusion bin
in Congress-"