The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-27
new CHINESE MINISTER
ARRIVAL AT SAN FRANCISCO OF SIR
CHEN TUNG LANG CHENG.
by a Large Suite and
About Twenty Students, Some
Being Sons of Mobiles.

SAN FRANCISCO March 26.-Among the
passengers on the steamer Korea, which ar
rived to-day from the Orient, was Sir Chen
Tung LANG Cheng, the new Chinese
minister to the United States. Minister
Cheng is accompanied by his entire suite
and party, which includes about twenty
students. Most prominent among the lat
ter is the eldest son of Viceroy Chang Chi
Tung. There is also in the student party
the only son of Tuan Fang. the enlightened
Manchu Governor of Hupeh. and third dis
tinguished figure among the students is
the son of the late Hsi Tung Shan, chief
imperial tutor of the late Emperor Tung
Chi. These three scions of nobility and
two others in the party came to the United
States to study at their own expense, while
the remaining members of the student body
enter the colleges of this country under
the auspices of the Chinese government.
Some of the students have long since
reached their majority, and several among
them have reached the period of ripe man.
hood. viceroy Chang Chi Tungs son Is over
forty years of age, while Governor Fangs
son is youth Of eighteen. The party will
remain in this city for some time before
proceeding to Washington.
Minister Cheng is accompanied by a
daughter and two sons. In his suite are
fifty-three secretaries. diplomats and le-
cation attaches, as well as nine servants.
His private secretary is Yenk Kwai. who
acted in like capacity on the staff of for
mer Minister WI Tingfang. He is grad
uate of Yale. and has seen much service
in the Chinese diplomatic service. Thirteen
of the diplomats of the party will be sta
toned at Washington. Four will be sent
to Peru, where Mr. Cheng win be installed
as consul. Lao Ngan Tow will go to Cuba,
where he will take charge of the consulate,
succeeding Chow Use Chi, who will come to
San Francisco as consul.
Minister Cheng Tung Liang Cheng, in an
interview, said: 81 can have no better ex-
ample than that of Minister WI. He tried
TO educate the American people out of their
prejudice against my countrymen a
race. OF course, L realize that the Amer
leans will never permit the unrestricted
coming of Chinese laborers. Nobody de-
sires that. do not think it would be wise
If they did. But the American government
and American statesmen have shown the
most friendly spirit toward China in the
troublous times of the last three years,
and hope much from that. / will main
tain friendly relations and will try to do
what can along the lines marked out by
Minister WI to secure ameioration of ex-
listing laws. / know what unrestricted
immigration would mean, and realize how
much this Is an issue with the American
people and with American politicians. 1
will do what can, but don't expect to
do too much. 1t is a question of hoping"
Asked concerning the renewal of the
Boxer troubles reported. especially from
Canton, Sir LANG said: 1.-The Canton
trouble was not at all serious. 1 was there
at the time OF its occurrence. Canton is
my home. There were a few arrests and
that ended 1t. Really ii was disturbance,
and very slight one, formented by mob
without leadership and without organiza-
ton. There was nothing else to it. But Ii
might have been serious If there had been
leaders. No; 1t was not the work of the
followers of Kang Yu We Wei. 1t is unjust
to him to say that. 1t was another faction
altogether that caused the trouble. But
there has not been, and 1 think will not
be, a renewal of the Boxer trouble. China
is at peace with the world and will remain
at peace The newspapers are printing
stories of renewed outbreaks, but L think
they are only taking advantage of the pub
lie ignorance concerning China to amuse
their readers"