Evening journal., 1894-12-28
CHINA RETAINS FOSTER
The Ex-Seoretary of State En-.
gagged as a Peace Envoy.
WILL START FOR JAPAN AT ONCE

He Goes as a Private individual 60 Cooper.
ate with the Chinese ambassadors In
Their Suit For Peace Satisfactory to Jap.
nncse Authorities.
WASHINGTON, Dec es.--John W. Eos
ter ex x-seoretary Of state, has been request
ed by the Chinese government to 20 tc
Japan and meet the plenipotentiaries Of tho
former government TO aid them Ia theil
negotiations for peace. He has accepted
the invitation and expects to leave Wash
ington within q day or two, sailing from
Vancouver for Yokohama on Jan. UNI
less informed OF q delay in the departure
OF the plenipotentiarles. Tho Japanese gov
ernmcnt has been advised of the appoint
ment, and its minister In this city has ex-
pressed his satisfaction with it.
Mr.. Foster desires to have 1t understood
that ho goes TO Japan purely in a private
capacity rs an adviser Of the Chinese plen-
ipotentiarios He has no authority to
represent or speak for the government OF
the United States.
On several occasions General Foster has
represented China in diplomatic dealings
between that country and tho American
state department and Is known to be thor.
oughly versed in tho politics Of the empire
and to have the confidence of its home
government.
Expects to Start soon.
Yes " said General Foster to your cor.
respondent, : have been requested by the
Chinese government TO aid its plenipoten
tiaries in their negotiations for peace with
Japan. | cannot tell precisely when
Jan. for Yokohama by that time
think the Chinese plenpotentiaries will
have left Pelxing and be on their way to
meet tho plonipotentlaries of the japanese
Whore they win meet has not been set
tied, but it probably will be in Tokyo.
THE request comes to mo direct from
poking, and all | can say is that | have
accepted and will do my best to SECURE
peace for China on the best possible torms
Upon the adjournment OF the Berlng
sea tribunal in Paris madea trip around
the world. visiting China Korea and
Japan. / made a special study Of the pol
itics Of those Asiatic nations and was on
very good torms with the prominent men
Of the several countries.
:" II seems to ho somewhat indefinite
whom the Chinese plenipotentiarles win
leave Peking, and / OF course will not
leave this country until l hear that they
are ON their way. Those two men are
/ Chang Yen Huan and an official named
/ Shao. The latter do not know. Chang
Yen Huan / know well He is very
/ progressive, liberal minded Chinaman,
| thoroughly convinced that what China
needs Is the establishment Of more rail.
/ roads and telegraph lines and a general
i opening up Of tho country TO American
| improvements When he was minister
here, he frequently rode on the railroads
to study them and enjoy the experience
IL such men as he obtain influence an(
Il prominence IN China hereafter IL vii
rapidly become changed country
Thinks the War Good For Chinn.
~ think this war will prove a blessing
60 China, IL will wake her IN Thi
Chinese are capable Of doing wondorfu
things With the general Introduction o
railroads and telegraph limos China vii
become q far greater power than now. Shl
Is even at the present time q wonderful
nation but bound down by conservatism
She has loyal, patriotic soldiers enough
but it woefully lacking In officers and mer
skilled in handling modern appliances o
warfare.
/ Ar AbN dAlNihf a hhf' 'li4 hhN hihAitn
feeling. She, too Is q wonderful country
and she has made more progress In thl
last few years than any other nation OF
earth. Her people are capable Of grea
cultivation, and she surely deserves ever,
recognition from western nations for tn
efforts she has made and the actual prog
ross she has already attained in her Of
forts toward civilization.
"Of course / cannot speak as to wha
will be done at tho peace confer enoe be
cause the plenipotentiaries have not ye
come together
II go as a lawyer in q private oapacit!
entirely, and, as I have told you, shall
do al in my power TO secure peace 70
China on the best terms obtainable. "
General John W. Foster Is IS years old
and probably has a wider and more init
mate acquaintance with foreign diplomats
politicians and statesmen than any othe
living American. He gots his military It'll
on account Of gallant service In the wa
for tho Union, having been brevotod gen
eral when the fighting was done
CulIom Looking After His Fences.