The evening times., 1900-10-17

Secretaries Hay and Long Confer.
For the first time in his career as Min
istsr from China to tie United States, Wa
Ting-fang. this morning, requested and
was given personal interview with Pres
ident Mckinley During the interview
Mr. Wu presented a letter from Emperor
Kwang Hsu. dated October II, az Tung-
KUN, a place on the border of Shansi
province and On the road TO Singan-fu,
thanking the President for his kindly Of
fees in endeayoring to restore peace in the
Empire ard for the untiring efforts of the
United States representatives in China in
trying TO bring about immediate negotia-
items for the re-establishment of quiet and
order and their desire 10 retain the en-
tity of the Empire and its Government.
The interview lasted more than twenty
minutes and Mr.. Wu was entirely salts
fed with the results obtained.
From what he said after his visit il is
made plain that China desires TO make a
great and good friend" out of the Ad-
ministration.
Early this morning the Chinese Minis
ter called on Secretary Hay and held a
long conference, during which he ex-
planned his desire to see the President
and deliver the letter personally in place
of sending it through the usual channels.
Secretary Hay stated that he lad not the
slightest objection to the unusual meth
cd and MIR. WI at once hurried to the
White House in his automobile.
y rumor is in circulation in diplomatic
quarters that the Chinese Emperor would
raise Minister Wa to the dignity of am
bassadoriaI rank in order 10 show his ap-
probation of the policy of the United States
and Mr.. Wu's services and 10 permit the
establishment of closer relations between
the Emperor and President Mckinley, an
ambassador having the right, as the direct
representative of his sovereign, to call per-
sonally on the ruler of the nation TO which
he is accredited. Mr. Wu's personal visit
to the President this morning an unusual
action for a minister. gives some sem
blance of truth 10 the rumor. but il has
not been confirmed officially. Under the
law of Congress. the President has the au-
thortty to raise 10 the rank of ambassador
the Minister of the United States accred-
tied TO a Government which raises its mis-
sion in Washington TO the rank OF an en-
bassy.
After Mr., Wu's departure from the
State Department, Secretary Hay re-
ceived long statement from Minister
Conger. which he declined to make pub
lie. He took the cablegram TO Secretar
Root and held long conference win the
latter. after which the Secretary tf state
brought the message to the White House
and remained c1oseted with the Preside nj
for nearly an hour,
While the text OF the Conger message
is withheld fer the present, it is l;eyed
that it has reference to the sericus out
breaks in the Yangtse provinces and the
dangers resulting tnerefrom. 1t was
limited by a State Departme Mt cfTc al his
morning that the cablegram ccn,ains a
statement by Mr. Conger that he sus-
pected that the Imperial Government was
not playing fair, and that instead cf at
tempting to carry cut his promises the
Emperor had been playing into the ha q
OF Prince Tuan and his friends A reply
was framed to MIR. Conger's message by
Secretary Hay and the President, and
this will be sent this afternoon