The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-02-04
mo AND LI HUNG CHANG.

How the Two Oriental Statesmen Be-
came Acquainted--Ito Early Life
His Escape From Japan and Stay in
England.
Is it a coincidence, or something
more, that within few days we should
hear of the return to power OF Ii
Hung Change and Ito (Hirobumi)?
Il know Lii; he is personal friend of
mine,' replied the Marquis Ito to a
question of mine one night, as we sat
by the fire in his European residence in
Toxic. THE Chinese don't know what
they are about, and have no method;
they areno tsufficiently organized" His
Excellency had remarked, to which
had made answer. But LII Hung
Chang, is he not a capable man? If he
had more power. do you not think
things would be different"
~ hardly think so. l know Id; he Is
a personal friend OF mine. and since
was sent to China on an embassy some
years ago we have kept up private
correspondence. Ii is a fine man, and
l admire him; but he did not do what
he might have done to preserve peace.
At one time all the Corean matter was
in his hands, and he could have avoided
the war had he wished"
You spoke Of your own relations
with Ii. How did they arise?"
well, when I arrived In China, / de-
manded an audience of the Emperor to-
present my credentials, but was met by
Ii, who said that must do my BUSH
ness with him. ButsI refused, and went
on to Peking. There j saw the Tsung-
li-Yamen, or Foreign Board, where ev-
erybodys business is nobody's; but
still l demanded to see the Emperor.
At last 1t was arranged that, as the
Emperor was SO young, / should pre-
sent my credentials to a prince Of the
royal family instead, which did. Then
came the question Of the power to be
intrusted to Ii for the negotiations. /
refused to enter upon any discussion
except with plenipotentiary, and the
Tsungi- Yamen in itself had sufficient
power. But when they perceived this,
| and deputed Ii to act for them,
would not accept the arrangement till I
| had letter from them stating clearly
what his powers were, and granting
| him powers he had never before
| possessed. With this In my hand I
| telegraphed to Ii to know If he ac-
| cepted the responsibility, and not till
received his reply did / move from Pc
| king. Then business began. One day
went to Las house, one day Ii came
to mine in the afternoon, and at sunset
4 we dined together, business being set
aside, and the evnings were devoted to
friendly conversation. 1t was then that
| got to know Ii, and to admire him.
| He wanted to know everything about
the westerners and all about the limo
vations was making In Japan, and
| told him all. Meanwhile, during nine
or ten such meetings business was ar
ranged, and treaty drawn up between
the two Empires on equal terms"
The man who sat before me was no
| ordinary individual. The plain state
ment he had just made In excellent
English bespoke an open mind. tact
full manner and a business-like re-
source. His action In speaking be-
trayed the busy, thoughtful, response
| BILE statesman. His whole bearing gave
| one confidence, and explained the Mi.
kado's well-placed trust. 1t was tic
| CIlrobum) who drew up the present
constitution Of Japan, and who has
since been president of the committee
employed in drawing UP the new civil
| and criminal codes. More than any