The Washington times., 1905-04-30
BIG PROBLEM FOR
TWO DIPLOMATS
Crafty WI Ting-fang Must
Deal With R0ckhill.
AMERICAN KEEN OPPONENT
Will Try to Arrange New Chinese Ex-
clusion Law Acceptable to Both
Countries-Some Difficulties.
AMERICAN KEEN OPPONENT

FOR COTTON SoOuS S0Cn as
eoon as the Russo-Japanese war ends.
put cannot make much progress in their
lans until they see China re-esta biish-
in control Of that vast country But
addition TO the war problem which
ust be solved before trade can be re-
EsEled in the Orient, there has sprung
Pup at this end OF the line an obstacle
OF no mean sort that OF reaching a new
agreement with China on the subject
of Chinese exclusion. This is what is
causing the trouble now.
The agreement lately In force expired
by limitation on December s. 1904. since
which time no new convention has been
agreed upon by the two countries
through their diplomatic representatives
at this Capital The State Department
and the Bureau of immigration of the
Department of Commerce and Labor
have been considering a draft Of new
treaty. but what suits China does not
please this country, and vice versa.
Consequently, the matter has been allow
ed TO progress slowly. officials here be-
lieying this country is better protected
by the old laws. which became again
effective with the passing OF the ten
year agreement last December, than il
a new compact was entered into with
all the opportunities for new Chinese
10 enter this country by declaring them
selves merchants travellers" or
students as desired by China
RockhilI and WI.
The way things are shaping them
selves at this time leads to the belief
that there will be q contest royal over
In China, between the two countries on
this subject, and that it will be con-
Quoted by TWO such marvelouslly skilled
diplomats that there will be little to
choose between them on the score of
ability.
These two men are Wu Ting-fang,
formerly Chinese minister here. and now
gradually reachin- the fore front OF
foreign affairs at home. and w. w.
Rockhill. American minister to China,
now on the way to his new post there.
The mission is new to him in na,ae only
for he has been there on several oc-
easions previously. and he knows China
and the Chinese better than any Ameri-
ran who has ever been there IN the
diplomatic service OF this Government.
Every one in America remembers Wa
Ting-fang. He made himself popular
here by his adoption of advanced Ameri-
can notions. such as riding in an auto
mobile when they first came into gem
eral use. and by making reputation
as an after-dinner speaker WI made
himself known and when known he
made himself liked
But all Americans do not know that
Roekhtll has studied the Chinese as Wu
studied the Americans. Rockhill has
lived in the interior OF China, speaks
Chinese, and understands the Chinese
character. Those who know them both
think it viii be a case of diamond cut
diamond when they get together 10
talk over how the new exclusion treaty
shall be framed. and so officials here
are looking for some breezy times in
store when the two shrewd diplomats
get together at Pekin.
Chinese Plan Criticised.
In official circles it is intimated that a
good deal depends upon Wu. When he
was accredited here he studied out the
immigration question from the Ameri-
can point of view and lie found out how
insistent the American officials are In
clined TO be on the point Of living up to
the law It sounded eninently fair 10
hear him say that Chinese coming TO
this country under any one OF the three
privileged designations could be made
To obtain certificates from the Chinese
government and then have them certt-
fed by the American consuls al the port
of embarkatiop for America.
Officials here contend, however, that
our consular officers have neither the
time the money. nor the inclination 10
institute inquiries into the social status
OF each Celestial who presents certifi-
Gaze emitting him to come TO America.
The consuIs have to take the word OF
some Chinese official or other, when to
question his Endorsement would be decid-
edly unfriendly and embarrassing. The
ease with which such certificates can be
transferred TO men not entitled 10 them
sd ST =
the plan,
E.yes Now on Pekin.
incidents OF this sort have been fore
seen so clearly by the Government here
that Sir Chentuag Liang-Cheng. the
Chinese minister. has been plainly told
what the trouble Is. He knows there is
reason for arguing along such lines. as
he was educated in this country and is
well acquainted with the facts OF
Chinese immigration. He cannot take
such view as final. however. as 1t
would not be in any way satisfactory ts
his government. So he is in a position
where he must insist upon the greatest
latitude possible for his countrymen
who wish TO come to this country. aad
this he has consistently done.
All negotiations at this end Of the line
having thus failed. the whole case Is
siuuber.ng until Minister RockhilI ar
rives at his post and takes up his new
duties there. II is expected he will be
aggressive about the matter since In its
present condition the immigration ques-
ton between China and America Is like
~ 10 be misunderstood and might lead
10 unfortunate biunders requiring dip
lomatic explanation efterward. Minister
Rockhill in his new post is generally re-
gaTded as the right man for the place
and officials here are awaiting with in
terest the first news of what he has
accomplished with the Chinese foreign
Office
ADAM A FOREIGNER"