The San Francisco call., 1896-08-15
Il HUNG CHANG'S
AMERICAN VISIT.
The President Will Grasp
His Hand on Govern
orS Island.
EAGER TO DO HIM HONOR
Cabinet Officials Confer With a
View to Arranging the
Programme.
MILITARY AND NAVAL DISPLAY
Lis Limited Time Will Not Allow
Him to Extend His Trip to
San Francisco.

Cs. aug. I4.-OOV-
ernors Island, the military reservation in
the harbor of New York, has been seect-
ed as the place of meeting for President
Cleveland and Ii Hung Chang. The de-
cision of Mr.. Cleveland with regard to this
feature of the programme now being ar
| ranged for the Chinese diplomats recep-
tion has just been reached. Notification
of this fact has been received at the Chi
nese legation, and it has been officially
communicated to Ii Hung Chang. The
President and he will clasp hands on this
historic island on the day the steamer st.
Louis, bearing him, arrives at the port of
New York.
The President has been in communica-
tion with Secretaries Olney and Lamont
on this matter. The officials have held
that Ii does not come to the United States
as private parsonage, but as an envoy of
the Emperor of China; and in proof of
this contention they point to a letter
which he is bringing from Peking bearing
the royal signature.
Coming as an official representative of
the Emperor to this country, the officials
are anxious to do him honor, hence the de-
sire of the President to receive him as be-
coming one of the rank and mission of the
distinguished celestial.
There was some talk of the Dolphin con-
veying III from New York to Gray Gables,
the Presidents summer home. No such
thought was entertained by the digni-
taries of European countries who went out
of their way to meet the former Viceroy.
The President determined to do likewise.
Emperor William of Germany arranged
his plans so that he was at Kiel upon Lis
arrival at that place from Russia. Wash
ington is too warm during the dog days
for holding an audience such as it is pro-
posed shall be given Ii. New York was
therefore the most central and most con-
venient point, and the authorities thought
it would be looked upon rs a courteous act
for the President 10 meet Ii Immediately
upon his arrival.
So far as the programme has been ar
ranged, it is understood that the dispatch
boat Dolphin will be used to convey the
President from Gray Gables to Governors
Island. The Dolphin has been ordered to
Newport, where she will probably receive
instructions from the President and will
then proceed to Boston, where she will
participate in the trial of the cruiser
Brooklyn.
This is to occur several days before Lii g
arrival, so that upon her relief from this
duty she can return to New York, stop
ping en- route to pick up the President and
Secretary Olney. The Dolphin will also
probably be used to transport Ii, with
some of the members OF his suite. from the
st. Louis upon her arrival at quarantine,
to the island, where the President will be
in waiting.
Besides the President and Secretary
Olney, the receiving party will. it is ex-
pected, consist of Assistant Secretary of
State Rockhill. who was acquainted with
Ii during his residence in China in q
diplomatic capacity Secretary Lamont;
an admiral; one officer of the lower rank
OF the navy, and a general OF the army.
General Ruger, commanding the depart
ment of the East, IS stationed at Gov
ernors Island. 1t may be, however, that
the authorities will desire another general
officer to form q MEMBER of the reception
party, and this officer may be Major
General Miles, commanding the army.
There Is some talk of sending additional
troops to Governors Island to parade upon
Lis arrival. If this be true the probabili-
ties are that troops in and about New
| York City will be ordered to the reserva-
ton. Three companies of the Thirteenth
Infantry are now stationed on the island,
but these would not make the imposing
display the authorities desire.
1t is expected that the army will also
! participate in Lis reception by firing
salutes from the forts as the Dolphin
passes on her way to Governors Island.
| The North Atlantic squadron will, in
pursuance to the programme prepared
some weeks ago, be stationed at Tompkins-
Vile About the time of LIS arrival. It is