The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-11-04
WI TING FANG
WILL BE MISSED
Chinese Minister Has
Many Friends in
America.
Occupies a Unique Position in
the Washington Diplo-
matte Corps.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

CALL BUREAU, 1406 G STREET, N.
W., WASHINGTON. Nov S-Annlstel
WI ing Fangs recall from Washington,
winch has been decided upon in Picking,
VIII leave vacancy in the diplomatic
corps such as no other ambassador or
Minister could create. His position has
peen unique, his personality original and
MS success so great that 1t has never
been fully comcrehended.
Educated in Engilsh-speaking schools,
versed In American ways, training young
Master Chow Chu In the academies OF
washington, able to appreciate American
numor, knowing thoroughlys American
sentiment anu American WeuKneSSes tie
soul OF every dinner ne ATTENDED. quick az
repartee and sharp at argument, no dipio-
mat mas ever come " the united states
with SUCH uliiicult mission anu sue
eesueu Ia IT quite So Wen as mas munster
WI.
Aoroit. debonair masking his diplomacy
pehihd sniie mat was ',cnllul4Ae and
p4anQ, ne NUii t,ilcIe uIiierS WHO llau Iaf
better advantages I;liieu.
Every bouy " asn4ugton remembers
thOSe trying days Julys anu August,
lSVO, when BoxeiS and l1nperAal troops
burst III upon the iegauluLis Iii PeklnS.
News many came tnal the legations had
peen sacked anu burned anu the Oii1cial
representatives of every power IN Cnrls.
tehdoni, with their tamiIles, guards and
rrlenus, had been murdered. Aunlster Wa
ACAhSSu " DSltctS H. Lay a1leT Gay IL:
went TO the State department, declaring
the news, that had come by way or
Snangnal, was false.
The country raved and stormed. The
whole world stood aghast. Finally the
Chinese Minister declared that he would
himself get through from Peklng absolute
news that the legationers were still alive.
one memorable day he whizzed down To
the state department in his automobile
and produced rhe cable he had promised.
The diplomats in Picking were aiive AS
IN .
by conviction that he was right and that
he had actually kept his woro.
Riding forth on the tide of popular APP
prevail that followed his achievement, the
Chinese Minister began to make use of all
opportunities to win favor for himself and
the Chinese. He was entertained every
where: He always took the opportunity
to make speech declaring that the Chi
nese were misunderstood. For year he
was constantly on the go. Wherever he
went instead of excavations he received
Why Minister WI is to be recalled and
placed in some subordinate position is re-
earded in Washington as one of the mys-
teries of Orientahsm. But for him the
United States. standing as a rock with
one or two other powers might not have
been able to prevent the ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF China and the putting of thousands to
the sword.
Minister WI returned to the city to-
night from his trip to Ann Arbor, Mich >.
where he went to deliver an address to
the students. Replying to questions re-
garding his recall he said he had received
no intimation that he would be asked to
return. AS he has heretofore expressed
himself, the Minister would not be sur
prised in the least If this action were
contemplated by his Government. as he
has now served on the mission here for
more than year longer than the GUS
tomary time allowed by the Foreign Of
flee at any one place-three years. He is
simply holding over now, and his recall
and the appointment of a successor would
be simply in line with established prac-
tice.
When asked whether he would return
to China If he were recalled Mr.. WI re-
piled with feeling:
why should not I? All my interests
are there.