The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-28
CHINA NEEDS OUR GOODS.
Minister Wu Ting Fang Invites
Trade 40 His Country.

Trndc 30 His Country.
NEW YORK. Ban. 27-The second an
nual dinner of the American Asiatic Asso-
citation. an Organization of merchants in
the Oriental trade, took place at Delmoni-
cos last night. Among the guests were
Jutaro Komura, the Japanese Minister;
Wu Ting Fang. the Chinese Minister
Charles DENLY. former Minister to China;
John Barrett former Minister to Siam, and
Senator John L. McI.surin, OF South Caro-
lima.
WI Ting Fang. the Chinese Minister. was
applauded when he arose to speak. He said
in part:
Il am here 10 protect the interests of my
country and my eountrymen. but in so do
ing nothing would make me want to hurt
you or your country. Ny one object in life
is to cement and draw closer the happy
relations now existing between our respec-
tive countries.
I'VE al know that China is one Of the
greatest markets OF the world. with pop
ulation of ieO.00O.O .O0O who must be fed and
clothed and receive the necessaries OF life
She wants your wheat, your cotton, your
iron and steel. and your manufactured ar
ticles of the New England States. She
wants steel rail- electrical machines and
one hundred other things that she cannot
get at home and must get abroad. II Is
fine field for American industry TO fill these
wants. 1t is particularly easy for you TO
reach China on account of the fine high
ii afal lx
desirable that you do so since you have be-
come our next-door neighbor in the Phil
ippines. II you do not come UP TO your
own expectations and meet this opportunity
il is your own fault.
Although China wants these things
America will have 10 go to China to sell
them Americans must study the require
ments and wants of the Chinese. II won
do for you TO dump your surplus goods on
them, because they wont take them. You
must exhibit your goods, because Chinese
will not buy on trust as they must see and
be pleased with what they are going to pay
their money for.
Here is another hint. Be more civil TO
them. Remember they have been brought
up in different way from you, and that
in many questions their etiquette differs
from that prevalent in Wall Street. Let
been going on for many years. Ciyility
goes long way. Deal fairly with them.
This is no iusiuuation that you cheat. but
don't try to be too sharp. The Chinese
have always believed that verbal con-
tracts are binding. They have had some
shocking experiences with Americans who
held that nothing but written contract
was binding. That question should be
looked into
Above all things else. lei me warn you
TO be careful how you treat your new sub
jects in the Philippines. / feel a. my duty
to warn you as friend q the United
States. who fears that his efforts on your
behalf may be frustrated II any unfair
advantage is taken of the Filipinos.
know that such actions would cause gen
eral mistrust in all China and ruin all
prospects of trade there. You must treat
them in a give-and take manner. not on
the principle of taking all and giving moth
ing"
The Japanese Minister said he was
pleased TO welcome. in the efforts OF the
japanese themselves. the addition oil
American energy and skill for the work
still TO be done and the industrial i'm
provements still 10 be made. He rejoiced
that In the Presidents message and in all
the acts of Congress as well as in the
business world. such b arty good will had
been shown toward japan. and insisted
that nowhere would American Industries
be more welcome than in his country.
Mr.. DENLY ana Mr.. Barrett both urged
the necessity ofsjncreasing our Far East
ern trade. and spoke OF the usefulness Of
our Philippine possessions 10 that end.