The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-22
BLAIR MAY GO.
The Question Of the Minister to
China.
1 Diplomatic Dinner in New York to Assist
The Matter.
What the Chinese Minister SayS-China OBJ
jeCtS 10 Blair on Account Of His
Anti-ChineSa Speeches,
srecial 70 THE MORNING CALI

WASHINGTON, May PA special to the
Post from New York states that Colonel
Shepard of the Mail and Express. who was
instrumental in securing Blair's appoint
ment as Minister to China. gave dinner
night before last at which were the Chinese
Minister. accompanied by the Chinese Con-
sui at New York, Shen Woon, his interpre-
ter, Shung Yu Ting, Mr.. York. Lin Lew
and Eugene Demitkiewitz. Besides the
Chinese visitors at the dinner were . lysses
S. Grant Jr., Emmons Blaine, Jesse Selig-
man. Edmund c. Converse and Logan C.
Murray. It was stated positively that Mr..
Shepard had given this dinner to curry
favor with the Chinese diplomates and get
their consent to receive Blair, and that he
had succeeded in the plan. Your CORE
spondent called at the Chinese Legation TO-
day and found the Chinese Minister quite
willing to talk about the matter, through
his accomplished interpreter, Mr.. Ho.
The Minister said: 1.-The Posts dispatch
prints the names of the parties at Colonel
Shepard's dinner correctly, except you may
say that Shung You Ting is not connected
with our legation. 1t is very important to
say that some time after 1 received word
from China that Minister Blair would not
be acceptable to our people, and after | had
communicated this to Mr.. Blaine, was in
formed by him that as soon as President
Harrison returned from his Western trip he
would take some action concerning the ap-
pointment of a Minister TO China. Since
then l have heard nothing concerning the
matter either from Mr. Blaine or from my
own Government. Several days ago l went
to New York. partly on private business and
partly to see Mr.. Blaine, who was too i'll to
be seen, so l was content to converse pleas
antly with Mrs. Blaine. l went to
Colonel Shepard's dinner, at which there
was not a word spoken by Colonel Shepard.
Emmons Blaine Banker Selgman, myself
or any one else concerning Mr.. Blair.
Those gentlemen must all OF them have
been intelligent enough to know that l am
only a gO-between and am here only to carry
out China'S wishes. | could have no in
fuence one way or another"
us it true. rs re orted in the newspapers,
that China was dissatisfied with Minister
Blair on account of his speeches concerning
your cOuntrymeD?
YES" said he, on account of the
speeches made by him on the 9th, 18th and
18th Of October, 1888, 10 the Senate" The
Minister repeated several times that he was
only an agent aud could have nothing what
ever to do toward accepting Mr.. Blair as
Minister to China. Though he did not say
So it is probable that the Minister enter
tanned a lurking suspicion that the New
York dinner party was Eiyen as piece of
diplomacy and he was anxious that il
should be known that he could not inter-
fere with China'S determination not to &C
cent Blair.
NEW YORK. May 21.-The Worlds Wash
ington special says: 1t is among the posi-
bilities that ex-senator Henry w Blair may
yet 90 to China as Minister PleDipOtentiary.
Blair said the other day that he did not eX-
pect to remain in Washington long, and Sec
rotary Chandler, in speaking about the
matter to-day, had this to say Il is by no
means settled that Blair will not 60 to China.
He has not yet seen the President in regard
to the matter, and there is a possibility that
everything may yet end well. Blair was
asked to come to Washington by the State
Department. although he had got as far as
Chicago on his journey. II it can be shown
to the Chinese Government that there was
no personal enmity as regards Blair's posi-
tion on the Chinese question, then there is
no reason why he should not eventually 60
there as Minister. The fact is that Blair
was one of the most conservative Senators,
and the Congressional Record will show
that he favored treaty being made with
the Chinese Government prior to the pas
sage of the Chinese Exclusion Bill in Con-
gress."