Evening star., 1899-03-14
MINISTER WI GOES AWAY
Will Take Needed Rest at the Sea-
side.
The American Reply to Itniy's Recent
InterrOgatfOn-A Brilliant Piece
of Diplomacy.

Mr.. WI, the Chinese minister accom-
panied by Madam WI, went to Atlantic
City today for a short stay, mainly to al
low the minister's wife to recover from a
recent slight illness, but also to relieve
Mr.. Wu from the constant and severe
strain he has been under during the recent
critical condition of Chinese affairs. The
minister has taken important part in
the negotiations, beginning with the grant
or the American concessions TO the Nor
gan-Brice syndicate last summer and more
recently when the attitude of the United
States was defined as a result of Italy's
demands on China for San Nun bay. His
devotion to his country and his constant
efforts to ward off the threatened dismem-
berment of the empire has been a severe
tax upon the minister, and in part leads
to his going to the seashore for a rest.
The Attitude of This Country.
The ambassadors and ministers in Wash
ington, representing those powers having
large interests in China have comrnuni-
Gated to their foreign offices the substance
of the recent answer of the United States
to Italy. to the effect that this country
would mainain an attitude of disinterested
neutrality in reference to the Italian de-
signs on San Nun bay. Some of these dip
lomats have advised their governments that
United States attitude as of supreme inn
portance in the Chinese situation. The rea-
sons Tor this are summed up by promi-
nent member of the diplomatic corps repre-
senting one of the powers of Europe. fol-
lows:
Brilliant Diplomacy.
The answer of the United States to Italy
is remarkably brilliant stroke of diplo-
macy. The neutral inclination of the
United States government would have been
TO favor the move of Italy, for the opening
or San Nun bay would give another port
TO the growing American trade in China.
but as this would have excited tie ami
mostly of China, your government decides
upon course of iisinterested neutrality
This gives 10 offense to China, ana at the
same time Italy and the world at large
take notice that the United States VIII in
terpose no obstacle in the acquisition Of
San Nun bay Or other Chinese PORTS 1t is
most important to all the powers to know
that the United States has no purpose to
interfere in behalf of China even to the
extent of exerting her moral influence to-
ward continuing Chinas Integrity.
For that reason 1 look upon the Ameri-
can answer to Italy as the most important
development in the Chinese situation that
has arisen in recent days. and l think it
will be so accepted in all the foreign
Offices"
Importance of San Nun Bay.
This diplomatic official further pointed
out that if Italy secured San Nun bay
from China it would prove port of ines
timable value to the United States inter
ests in the Philippines. 1t is one of the
southerly ports of China, and about the
closest for the big trade to and from Ma
Mia.
The Chinese authorities were at first in
ciined to accept the answer of the United
States to Italy as rather favorable to
China; but the more it is turned over the
more it appears to indirectly favor Italy
as it gives her an assurance that her hands
will be free in executing the move on San