Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-30
China Will Seek the Best in
Other Countries.
rs ANXIOUS TO LEARN
A DISTINGUISHED COMMISSION
COMING TO UNITED STATES.
Another Will Make a Tour Of Europe
Both Will Study the Prevailing
Civil and Military Methods.

The Chinese minister here, Sir Chentung
LANG Chang, called at the State Depart
ment today and notified Secretary Root Of
fcially Of the departure from China for this
country of an imperial commission COM
posed of two Chinese of high degree and a
numerous and brilliant staff of attendants,
who have been charged by the Chinese gov
eminent with the task of studying political,
military, navy, educational and Industrial
methods in the United States. That COM
mission will stop at Honolulu on the way
across the Pacific for a few days, and is
timed to arrive in San Francisco January
16. At that port they will be accorded all
the courtesies and facilities usually bestow-
ed upon visiting diplomats charged with
special missions, the State Department
having arranged to instruct the customs
officers accordingly.
Travelling overland leisurely. the COM
mission will reach Washington about jan
uary q, and will take up their residence
at the Chinese legation.
Secretary Root has already charged Mr.
Charles DENLY. the chief clerk of the De-
partment of State and formerly secretary
of legation at Picking. with the duty OF re-
ceiving and caring for the commission In
behalf of the government. Notw. thstA aiding
the formidable task set for them, the conn
missioners expect to complete the investi-
CATION of American methods In three weeks.
when they will return to China.
Gen. Fong at the Head
At the head of the commission is Gen.
Tuan Fong. He is a Manchu and is known
In his own province under the name OF
Tokrow. At present he is governor of the
popuious province of Human, and was re-
Gently acting viceroy of Human and Hupeh
He is particularly popular among the for
eign element in China, because he was gov
ernor of the province of Shenshi during
the famous Boxer uprising of 1900. and not
withstanding the massacres of foreigners
which occurred in the adjoining prov nce5,
not one foreigner lost his life In Shenshi,
owing to the vigor and energy with which
Gen. Fons administered his office. He has
been a prominent figure in the reform
movement which has prevailed In China
since the Boxer trouble. and is said to be a
man of broad and liberal ideas.
The second member of the commission
is the assistant secretary of the treasury
of China Tai Hun Tsz. He Is a Cantonese
by birth He has been subchancellor OF
the grand secretariat and vice president
of the board of punishments and is now
vice president of the board of revenues.
To Make Tour of Europe.
Following closely upon this commission
TO the United States probably coming on
the next steamer. but landing at Seattle
instead of San Francisco. will come an
other commission, headed by Hsian Chi
Heng, the present acting governor of the
province of Shantung. That commission
If to do for Europe what the first commits
sion is to undertake in the United States.
But they will be in no haste to reach their
destination, and expect to make stay
also in Washington on their way across
the continent to take ship for Europe.
In sending these commissions abroad. as
the matter was explained to Secretary
Root, the Chinese government is seeking
to emulate Japan, and intends to follow
the example of that nation In freely avail
ing itself of the best of modern foreign
ideas which can be engrafted upon Chinese
civilization.