The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-30
BLAIR'S REJECTION.
The Chinese Minister Confirms
Tuesdays Reports.
Secretary Blaine Officially Notified Of the
Imperial Governments Action.
officials at Washington Decline 10 Discuss
the lneident-Blair Requested 10 Re-
turn to the Capital.
Special to The MORNING CALL.

WASHINGTON, April ga representa-
tive of the Associated Press this morning
called at the Chinese Legation here and had
an interview with Minister Yen in regard
10 the reported declination of his Govern
ment to receive Senator Blair as the ac-
credited representative of the United States.
Yen said, through an interpreter, that he
had received cablegram from the Chinese
Foreign Office which he had been instructed
70 lay before Secretary Blaine without de-
lay, expressing the unwllingness of the
Emperor to receive Blair. Other than this
Zen had received no instructions, written
or otherwise, from his Government on the
subject.
The exact language of the cablegram or
whether the reasons for this action are
given he failed to state. Personally he had
very high opinion of Senator Blair. AT
the Ministry to China, Yen was in Peru, to
which Government he is also the representa-
tive of China, and he did not return to the
United States until early in the present
month. He 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 utteTances OF the Chinese
question. as reported in the Congressional
Record, been brought to his attention.
The Minister conveyed the impression that
he simply stated the facts to his Govern
ment and aside from that had not sought to
influence its decision, either fayorably to the
Senator or unfaVorably. This action of the
Chinese authorities has not created the least
/ excitement here, as it has been anticipated
by many from the first. The proceeding Is
not very unusual one and cannot be con-
strued as indicating an unfriendly feeling
toward this Government.
Among department officials there Is gen.
eral indispustion to discuss the subject of
Blair's rejection. Still it is evident there is
no general desire to magnify the incident
into the proportion of diplomatic rupture
1t Is long-established rule of diplomacy
that nation is not obliged to accept Min
lster who is not persona grata, and that his
rejection on thar account is not to be con-
Strued into az Intended affront to the dig
nifty of the nation which sends the Minister.
Altogether, the opinion in official circles is
general that the United States is, by its
own conduct estapped from resenting Min
lister Blalrs rejection. and that after wait
ing for length of time sufficient to main
tain the national dignity a new Minister
will be appointed by President Harrison.
CHICAGO, April 29.-Ex-S Senator Blair ar
rived here this morning and was luestioned d
pa TesaId to tho report that TIE Chinese
GOyernment had submitted to the Depart
ment of State formal protest against his
being semitic China.
81 have received no official notice of such
a protest" said Mr. Blair. ''All that l know
about 1t is what | have seen in the news
papers. / may be permitted to doubt its
correctness for the reason that the State
Department knows that l am en-
route to China, and If it had con-
cluded to recall me it would have done
so without delay. l shall not stop here any
longer than l originally intended in order to
await official information. If | hear moth
ing from Washington by tomorrow | shall
proceed to San Francisco and sail from that
point. L do not think, OF course, there is
any good reason why China should object to
!. me. Neither do l believe the Chinese Gov
erHment thinks so. During my service in
Congress, whatever did l did from con-
yictions. Whatever did in the matter of
Chinese immigration also received the in
dorSement oil the Government, and the Gov
ernment is responsible, not L personally. 1t
is incredible that any nation would seek to
enforce personal liability. especially at this
late day"
Tonight Mr.. Blair received telegram
from Secretary of State Blaine requesting
him to return to Washington. The message
contained no other information and Mr..
. Blair will go back tomorrow. He said he
had no official notification Of any change
and knows nothing of the rumors that he is
to be sent to Japan or Persia. Until the re-
ceipt of Blaine'S message he was not aware
that he was not to continue his journey to
China. So far as his official knowledge
goes he is still the accredited Minister to
that country. Personally he does not care
whether he goes or STAYS.