Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-10-08
UNITED STATES
WAS UNSELFISH.
Chinese Minister Admits That in
the Chinese Policy,
QUESTION HAS TWO SIDES.
United States Took she Right one, and
Was Pair TO China uisundeT-
standings Caused the Cro1bie.

was fair TO ChinA uisunder-
standings Caused the Tro1ble,
New York oct s--A special 60 The
Herald from Washington says:
Wa Ting Fang the Chinese minister
20 the United states, said that he had
read with great interest letter recent
by received from Mrs Conger giving her
Views Of The Chinese people and the
Chinese government and relating the
details of the siege through which the
loE3ti0uers had passed Commenting
upon the causes which produced the
recent outbreak and the general sltua-
ton. the minister said:
China is passing through a most
critical period and It Is matter OF
deep satisfaction to me that the United
States with the same unselnsh frleudll-
ness that has always characterized It's
relations with my government. is using
lt earnest endeayors 10 enable It to re-
turn TO its old place among the family
Of nations.
10 wrongs have been committed,
lhiht stands ready 10 make lust and
adequate raparat.on, and Il is the
american recognition of the sincerity
10, ihIs purpose that has brought early
peace within reach Though us repre-
sauiatNes We're In the same distressing
situation as We're those OF other nations,
and though Europe, In defiance OF CHI
hrse assurances and Mr., Conser's dis
patch. uritedly declared It's belief In
the massacre OF the foreign ENJOYS,
NIs government announced lbs faith In
the Chinese word and the outcome
proved that los position was justified.
To add 90 the debt Of Chlna's graft
tude the United States did not hest
tate To- enter into relations with II
hung Chang, and subsequently with
Prince Ching and other Chinese peace
commissioners. and thanks TO its atti-
lude, other nations propose 10 adopt q
similar policy, and peaceful negotia-
tons VIII soon be instituted looking 10
me settlement Of all the questions at
issue.
But while China is no doubt respon-
slble for much OF the trouble that has
occurred, &c seems 10 me that a dispas-
sionntn consideration of an the facts
viii show that the blame Is not entirely
hers that others as well must bear a
share of The censuIe the civilized world
is dwelling 40 my country The cause
Of the trouble Is fixed by Mrs. Conger.
VIE OF your minister lu the letter
which appeared On the Herald on last
sunday. She stated that the Chinese
are q strange people 90 foreigners and
b.. %
less strange De- the foreigner and his
ways to the Chinese Our ways are 10
us tha best. Their ways are TO them
the best
Mrs C0nser has struck the keynote
81 the trouble. misunderstanding is at
tho bottom OF what has occurred For
teEcrs go 90 China and they treat the
Chinese with too little consideration
They say You must do what we de-
Wand,' and they insist that their wish |
as Dee carried out. They have taken
Chinese territory. they have criticised
the religion which Is Unborn In the
Ciinaman What would the people Of
America say II other nations should
seize their territory? What would they
say II followers Of C0nfucius or Buddha !
should come here and sheer az their |
religion? The foreigner does not under.
stand the ChInaman, nor does the |
Chinaman understand the foreigner.
1T IS not difficult 90 appreciate how |
n IS this misunderstanding exists. Your |
merchant goes 90 China and talks a |
few words in 'pidgin English with a |
Chinese merchant The business Is |
transacted satisfactorily 20 both-it As |
often said that the word OF a ChInaman |
in @ business transaction IS az good as |
his bond-and they part. They have no |
Of learning the good traits |
Of each other; one suspects the other |
OF trying 10 get the advantage. and Il |
Is this mutual distrist which has sowed |
the dIscord that exists,
ITO my mind this does not seem sur
prising In view Of the fact that the |
United States and Great Britain have |
engaged IN frequent controversies, and |
this Notwithstanding the fact that both |
nations speak the same language and |
have 80 much IN common. |
How much more difficult. therefore. Is Il |
for China having a different language |
and employing oftentimes methods en- |
troly antag0nistlc Go those used by |
foreigners, 10 prevent mi01nderstand- |
inFs and preserve friendly relations |
with an nations.
"What further adds TO the dlfl- |
Guilty Of maintaining accord between
China and the rest Of the world is the |
ignorance Of foreign ways by the otfl- |
Gals OF the empire Until their recent |
departure from Pekin an Of the princes |
had spent practically their entire lives |
I'm the capital and but a few Of the |
ministers had ever left the city even |
for the purpose Of visiting extreme |
ports of the empire.
with the exception of the Tsung II I
Yamen. none of these officials has ever |
come I'm close contact with fore gners or |
foreign officials, and the relations OF the |
Tgmg III Yamen with the foreign en- /
vows are Of a most superficial ch3rac- /
ter To is not, therefore remarkable /
that the Chinese officials should take |
action which 90 them Is justified but I
which 20 Western people seems wholly |
wrong? One looks an the circumstances /
through Chinese eyes and acts Of the /
Chinese point Of view; the other looks /
at the same circumstances through !
western eyeglasses and condemns what |
he does not understand
80 II seems 90 me the first thing that |
must Doe done IS tO remove az much "a |
possible the MISUNDERSTANDING that eN- |
ists and I am glad the United States |
and other nations have realized that |
there are two sides 20 the question and |
have slgnided their intention OF listen |
ing 10 the views ~ the Chinese by en- |
tering into negotiations. Those nego- /
tatlons win enable China 10 make her /
defense. 20 show wherein the RESPONSE |
billy lies. and am sure that the world /
when Il understands her motives and |
her position win be more lenIent than It |
Is today"