Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-10
China's Unjust Kick Against
Senator Blair.
1t May Lead to a Breach of
Friendly Relations.
The Views of This Government
Frankly Expressed.
A Possibility OF Diplomatic Relations
with the Flowery Kingdom Being
Cut OF Altogether-Wash-
ington Notes.

Associated Press Dispatches.
WASHINGTON, April 9.-The full text of
the most important part of the letter
written by Acting Secretary of State
Wharton to Minister DENLY, October 6,
1891. concerning the declination of the
Chinese government to receive ex-
Senator Blair as minister, has been
made public. II is prefaced with the
statement that the position which China
had assumed in the matter ''seems to
require frank expression of the views
of this government"
He says that Mr.. Blair, having per-
emptorily resigned his Office, there is
no question of his going to China, but
that the objections of the Chinese gov
ernment to his reception are open to in
spection, and that clear understanding
is necessary in the interest of inter
national good will. He therefore says
"While the sovereign right of any
government to determine the accepta-
bility or non-acceptability of a foreign
envoy admittedly exists, the courtesy Of
nations, in practice, confines the exer-
else of this right within we'll marked
limits. The communications of the
Chinese government in Mr.. Blair's case
appear to fully recognize this, for the
government of the United States is, in
unmistakable terms, invited to admit
that suficiency OF reasons has been
adduced. and to signify its acquiescence
by sending out another minister, whose
public record shall not be open to the
objections alleged against Mr.. Blair's
public record.
$50 far those objections rest on al
legations of fact, in respect to views
concerning the Chinese people and ma
ton, which are alleged to have been en-
tertained and uttered in legislative de-
bate, by Mr.. Blair. The government of
the United States cannot admit their
sufficiency. A careful examination of
every public utterance of Mr. Blair in
the course OF the debates attending the
passage of the Chinese bill in the SEN
ate, conclusively shows that Mr.. Blair
has been injuriously represented. In
point of fact, the true record of Mr..
Blair while in the senate shows him to
have been, first and last, respectful to
China and just to her people. The OBJ
lection to receive MIR. Blair because he
cast his vote for the exclusion act, is in
reality an objection 10 receive any per-
son as minister of the United States,
who in his character as senator or rep
resentative in congress has cast a vote
for any measure which is obnoxious to
the Chinese government.
cit must be conceded by the Chinese
government that there is no time to dis
cuss the propriety of legislation which
has become the supreme law of the
land, and which commands the obedi
ence OF all persons within the United
States. Any person who may be duly
appointed United States minister to
China is bound faithfully to observe and
aid in the execution of existing laws.
This ground OF objection to Mr.. Blair
the president could not take into ac-
count in selecting another envoy. 1t is,
moreover, illogical in this: That the OBJ
lection of China being avowedly against |
existing legislation rather than legis-
lator. Three years OF friendly inter-
course have passed since this law was
enacted without China discovering that |
the existence of the law was bar to the |
reception of an envoy representing the |
country which enacted it.
''It Mr.. Blair may not be received as
minis ter when that law remains unre- |
pealed, and because of its existence as a |
law, it is not ready to reconcile that
position with the continued friendly |
reception of the present minister OF the
United States at Pekin. In this aspect,
as in every other aspect, the position
assumed by China is admissible
The correspondence closed with a
telegram dated March 25th last from
Wharton to DENLY directing him, if he
has not already done SO, to mmuni-
cate the above dispatch to the Chinese
government.
The matter has been discussed by the
senate in executive session, and the at
titude assumed by the Chinese govern
ment has been roundly denounced on
all sides, but so far there has been no
attempt at action, as the subject is still
In charge OF the department of state.