The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-07
'H.r-rt on statements
Ii Hung Chang.

The death OF Earl Ii Hung Chang
which. as reported in a despatch from
China, occurred at eleven o'clock this
morning while il may affect certain in
ternauonal questions and interests, is
not regarded as likely to exert any un-
favorable influence upon the settlement
between the Powers and the Chinese
Government under the peace Conven-
tion of Picking. Had Ii died while the
negotiations We're in progress it is prob
able that it would have occasioned Sc
rious delay. and the Chinaman substi-
tuted for him might have proven more
intractable and less open TO the Rus
sian influence which, under cover of the
willy old statesmans personality really
nodded the form of the final protocol
1t may result from lis taking off that
the ManchUrian question which he was
handling Will take on a different aspect
That he has been in the pay of the St.
Petersburgh Government for the past
fifteen years is so generally believed
that the charge must have been long
known TO the Empress DOWaGer. Con-
sidering Chinese ideas and methods II
might appear strange at first blush that
she should tolerate the suspected Off
cial i'm a position Of influence over the
international affairs Of her Government.
But this may be explained by the prob
ability that Isl Hsi has realized the
strength Of the foreign power behind
Ii. and has been as much afraid of him
as he has shown himself afraid OF her.
whenever it seemed probable that he
would be called TO place himself within
reach of her personal authority.
His demise viii be an unwelcome ac-
cidcnt 10 Russia at this time. Not that
IL viii not be easy TO make friendly ar
rauEements with whoever may succeed
him. as negotiat0r in the business of
Nanchuria. because all Chinese funC-
tionaries are purchasabIe But il would
bc difficult if not impossible 10 find an
other native Of his ability. or one as in
dependent as he has been Of the ignor-
ance and turbulence OF the Court in
dealing with representatives. Of foreign
nations. Prince Ching. who was asso-
olated with him In negotiating the peace
and indemnity convention. is represent
ed 10 be fairly able man. but his po-
sitioE is such that he would be more
apt 10 follow Chinese Court opinion
than TO lead and dominate it. As 4
prince Of the blood. he is bound by i'm
memorial custom and precedent and
moreover. ne is subject 10 summary
trial by the Imperial Clan Court which
has jurisdiction over all members II
the dynasty. As we know. il is a dy-
nasty Intensely anu-fOreign in senti-
ment, and bitterly opposed 10 the re-
torm Of the Empire on anything ap-
preaching Western models. Russia
would ind him a hard man 10 deal with
on the subject Of Mauchuria, especially
since the province was a dynastc ap-
Uanase. and only in that sense to be
considered as part of the Chinese EN-
Iire-
What a prince ike Ching could not
OF would not do. il would be hard To
get out - Il Chinsman OF lesser rank.
II could convince even the pig-headed
uG deusely ignorant DoWager some
lines. out OF the pleuitude Of his expert
euce and ku0Eledse Of outside condi-
lions. and the home necessities growing
out of them. In that respect il is doubt
1ul If ne has left any successor. Posi-
bly, the late Minister to England. oI
Ninister Wa might partially fU the
hdl. but probably neither has the neces-
sary prestige al Court nor its unresery-
ed confidence We may expect to see
considerable friction between Russia
and China respecting Manchuria which
would have been avoided had Ii lived
And that friction might open the way
TO difference which would end in in
Nolvius japan ana perhaps other Pow