Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-14
MINISTER WI TALKS
Has Expected His Re;al
for Some Time.
HIS FUTUR RE WORK
WHAT HE HOPES TO ACCOMPLISH
FOR CHINA.
His Country Wants to Be Placed on a
Sound Financial Basis-Improve-
ments That Are Needed.

ments That Are Needed
| Minister Wu Ting Fang of China is busly
| engaged in arranging the business of his
| embassy so that he will be in readiness
| to return to China when his successor ar
rves here, leaving his office in the very
| best condition for the new minister to
| take up the work that Minister WI has
| conducted for the past five years. The ap-
pointment of the new minister was of
course no surprise to him, as he has long
| known that in accordance with custom his
term here could not be greatly prolonged,
| he having already remained in his present
post longer than Is usual.
| A month ago he was appointed by royal
edict to codify the laws of China and Eu-
ropean and American countries for the ce-
| lestial empire in collaboration with Shen, a
member of the imperial board of punish
ment of China, which board embodes legis-
latlve, judicial and executive functions IN
der the emperor. This duty will require
Minister WI to locate in Pekin and Will
occupy his time for at least two years. The
appointment of Shen and WI to this i'm
| portant duty will bring to bear upon it
| two men eminently fitted to perform the
duty.
with every detail of Chinese law and the
methods of it's execution. Minister WI is
also familiar with the laws of China, and
in addition has had wider acquaintance
with the laws and customs Of Europe and
the United States than any other citizen of
China. He has been mixer whose
| pleasure has always been to pursue his in
quiries into every detail of the customs of
the countries in which he has resided, and
especially in the United States.
Importance of His Return.
Minister Wu's return to China is regard
ed by statesmen in this country as one Of
the most important events that could hap
pen for the celestial empire and likely to
| result in the greatest benefit to China He
| has proven himself to be diplomat of the
highest order. and it is generally consider
ed that his personal influence, which was
only possible to one who had come into
close contact with the people here and had
gained their good will, was instrumental
in accomplishing much for the benefit of
China during the negotiations that were
pending when the dismemberment of the
empire seemed approaching.
For these reasons many people here be-
lieve that when the Chinese fully appre-
ciate the work he has done for them he
will have the greatest influence in their
councils. These conditions attending his
return to his country are extremely i'm
portant, because he will carry with him
many ideas for the improvement and ad-
vancement of China. It is to be seen how
far he will be able to influence his coun-
trymen to adopt new ideas.
What | hope for above all else" said
Minister WI when. seen by Star reporter
today, ''is to see my country placed on
firm financial basis"
He has no plan he cared to discuss at
this time as to the exact details of his
plan for improving the finances of his coun-
try, but he hopes to contribute toward
means for bringing about this end. China
a
her debts have been made more and more
burdensome because these debts are in gold
and the value of silver has been steadily
going down. The placing of China on
firm financial basis will permit other re-
forms which Minister WI hopes to take
part in bringing about.
Important Things for China.
There three important things for
China" said the minister. "They are edu-
cation, railways and newspapers. I would
like to see China improve in these things,
because China has need of good men, and
the way to get good men is to have good
education. We ought to have more schools
in China and more young men studying IN
Europe and the United States. l should
like to have schools in China as you nave
| them in your country. We ought to have a
system of popular education, so that every
one can be educated. We want our peO-
pie educated.
Then we want more railroads. Rail-
roads are means of education also. They
allow people to travel and allow those OF
one town to come in contact with people of
other towns. That is education.
THE third of the pre-eminently important
things Is the newspapers. We want nigh
class newspapers in China. That is another
form of education. They must be conduct
ed in proper way"
Just how Minister WI will proceed to as
sist in bringing about the improvements he
hopes to see adopted in China he has not
determined He proposes doing what he
can to that end. The government is bu1ld-
| ing all the railroads there, and 1t Is an MS
| tOrical fact that the first railroad IN emma
was undertaken the result OF MI WI S
advocacy. The government VIII also 90
what is to be done for education The
| newspapers will probably be the outgrowth
of encouraging influences rather tnan gov
ernmental appropriation.
Minister WI has in mind, II ne can secure
| time to carry out his wishes, the Wrltlng OF
| two books--one on America for publication
| in this country and one ms opSerVaOohs
| outside of China for publicat1on IN Chnese.
These will be separate works. tne pupii
| the propaganda of Mr. Wu's ideas for the
! advancement of his country, Wnlcn IN
| book form could be ca rTfed to every enileht-
ened Chnaman. While he would ike 10
enter upon this work. he hasEno very great
| hope that ne will be able to do It, the
work Of codifying the Laws Of China and the
Introduction Of European and American
exclusively for two years to come.
I'VE have ambition to do many things,
ne said today, when the possability OF writ
| ing these books was faferre4 to, put lie
| is very short, and there issnot time Tor
many things