The Portland daily press., 1900-03-15
Dinner of Members Of
Tea Trade.
Minister WI Ting Fang One OF
Speakers.

,he Tea Trade OF New York gave dim r
20 the members OF the United States
Board Of Tea Experts In the Waldorf to-
night. The banquet was presided over By
George L. Mont yomery, president OF tbs
Tea association. At his right was seated
the Chinese Minister WI Ting Yang. and
ct his lsft Chairman George L.. Hewlett
OF tbs Board Of Tea Experts. Otter
q ne IT'S at the table were tire Jspane1e
consul, 4. Uchide and tie Hon. John
BarTeit, ex- minister to Slam. George l..
Hewlett Of the board OF tea experts made
the first sree,h. He spoke OF the necessity
Of cooperation In tie trade.
Tie rext sIe,ker was WI Ting Fang,
who was warmly re el,et. In part he
said: az assure you that l appreciate
very much tie ye-y warm welcome that
ron have given ne tonight. te"eTe this
Is further eYide1te OF friendship and good
will on your part toward the country
which 1 repre-ent. II you Americans &C
quirei the habit Of using ten as We
Cbinese do, you would haze very good
tea, and IL Ia only respectable that you
should impore tax upon it."
John Barrett, late minister to siam
rext spoke.
MIR. John Barrett, responding TO the
toast "Amsrioa's Interests In China"
said In part:
"One important point in all this dis
oussion of the open door and vast com
merciaI opportunities in China has been
overlooked. here. In the presence OF Ills
Excellency, the Chinese minister whom
all admire for his abilities, statesman
ship and frank diplomacy, would like
20 ask this leading question on behalf o I
Americans who are deeply interested in
the future of China;
/ What Is China herself going to do,
or In other words, In view Of the recent
keep op,n the door Of comm sroe, to en-
phasize the meaning as well as ths letter
OF ths treaties, to prevent or oheokmate
the illumination Of spheres Of influence
and 90 preserve the integrity Of the
Chinese eiupire. what 10 China herself
going to do on her own part to take pro-
or ssive steps, TO respect the treaties, to
revisit assimilation by European powers
through the spheres and SO ktep the en-
pirs intact.
With no harsh criticism intended
and 9TH all que respect for his excellency
and his great country, we must admit
that there are certain unfortunate, but
not irremedia. conditions In the admins
tration Of government. law and order in
China that should be corrected II the EN-.
pire would successfully work out It's own
salvation. Beginning with the Pekin
government and extending to the in
terror and the provinces and procedures,
1t would seeIn In the opinion Of those who
ha We the best interests OF China at heart,
that some reasonable changes could be
aud must be effected In the near future II
China would stand with strong moral
force and right, against, on tine one
hand, the forward and selfish moyem emit
for territorial aggrandizemept by some
European powsrs and with, on the other
hand, the vigorous legitimate efforts oi
the United States to help her at u time
when the latter is practically the only
country that has not demanded that she
shall ALLEVIATE portion OF her sovereign
dominion.
'Win China consider the imporicus
necessity of accomplishing on her own
Initiative before 1t may be too late, con-
ser vativs reform In her general and
specific methods Of government In faoili-
tating legitimate negotiations With fer
eign powers on all questions at Pekin In
rsorgnnizing the essential forces of order
in the protection OF property ana life, in
the suppression of piracy and rebellion,
In tha honest application and collection
Of inland taxes. In promoting education.
In granting and honoring Just oonces-
sions for material developments In opan-
ing the Interior to the commerce OF the
woKldi'
GAS His Exoell ENJOY the Chinese min
lister has bean repeatedly speaking to the
American people in plain terms concern
ing our own shortcomings and warning
US against ultimate Possibilities, all of
which we have aocepted.in good spirit, lie
cannot be offended II we In turn ask him
those questions In good faith. As for
myself-and i think speak the Eenti-
ments of all at this dinner. am actuated
and the potentialitiss Of this great en-
pirs. We hope that Its integrity will not
only be forever preserved. tut that it
may successfully work out for itself an
imprsgnable position among nations
where Its political rank. commercial in
tiusncs aud moral force as frat class
power, will never be quessio ned and al
ways respected.
elm evolving tbs future In short. China
must do her part.ns well as tbs United !
States and other powers who wish her |
only well, and would protect her from
an impending trsak up at the hands Of |