Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-12
ON THEIR WAY TO EUROPE
Cordially Greeted at State Department
by Mr.. Root.
10 AN INFORMAL DISCUSSION
Mr.. Daniels, a Member of the Party,
Talks About the Conditions in
China-Looking to Future.

The imperial Chinese commissioners-Duke
I Tsai Use, Shang Chi Heng and Ii Cheng
Te-who are on their way to Europe to
investigate political conditions in England,
| France and Belgium, arrived last evening
| from New York and were received by Sec
| retary Root at II o'clock this morning by
| special appointment in the diplomatic recep-
| tion room of the State Department Ac-
companied by the Chinese minister they
| had assembled in a semi-circle when the
| Secretary entered from his private office
| with Assistant Secretary Bacon. The orien-
tails bowed low and then advanced to re-
ceive a cordial handshake from the Secre-
tary. In welcoming them to this country
the Secretary said:
1T is always well for people of any coun-
try to visit foreign countries. even for a
short time. 1t makes their Ideas so much
more definite. The cause of all controversy
between nations is lack OF knowledge. /
heartily wish we might know all of the
Chinese statesmen well as we know Sir
Chanting Liang Cheng, your minister at
Washington, for In that happy event there
would be no MISUNDERSTANDING.
The commissioners then told the Secre-
tary of the courtesies they had received on
their way across the continent and at New
York and of the special interest with
which they saw Niagara Falls.
The Secretary told them of the fears or
the government lest the beauty of the falls
be ruined by commercial enterprises, end
in the course Of the informal con-
versation which followed made the pre-
diction that a century hence China would
be furnishing greater portion OF the
worlds supply Of iron.
during the audience. Mr.. DENLY, the chlef
clerk of the department, was also present.
The commissioners were received py tHe
President at the White House at 80 TINS
afternoon
Received by the President.
They were cordially greeted by the Pres1-
dent The most prominent man IN the tflo
is his IMPERIAL highness Tsai Use, cousin
to the emperor and a duke of the highest
order. He was accompanied by Shang Chi
heng, former acting governor of the prov
ince of Shantung. and Ii Sheng-to, minis
ter to Belgium.
The Feeling Against Foreigners.
Mr.. f. s. Daniels, who came to this coun
try with the Chinese commissioners, and
who has travelled extensively through China
recently and has met many of the high Of
ficials, talked Interestingly today regarding
conditions In China.
''The boycott" he said. rs not directed
against America; It is simply the turning OF
the worm, the worm being China, against
the stealing and the general looting of the
country by foreign countries. England has
forced opium on her, Russia grabbed Man
chufia Germany grabbed Kfa Chou;
Franco has demanded indemnities and
America is now trying to force goods on
the people who do not want them The
Chinese claim, and with justice, that If they
want to boycott goods of America or any
other nation they have that right, and
America has not the right to force her 10
buy goods she does not want to buy. Ihey
say that If Germany or England had boy
cotted American goods. there would have
been no talk in America of forcing its
goods on England or Germany, or demand
ing of their governments that they should
order the people TO stop the boycott.
'The eagerness OF the average European
or American to pick a quarrel with the
Chinese, or rather to bring the race ques-
tion into prominence, was strikingy ex-
ampled by the recent riots at Shanghai.
The riots were the work of a few coolies
and the lawless element; the upper class
OF Chinese had no sympathy with the
rioters and no Europeans were killed. show
ing that the Chinese did not desire blood
shed but simply made demonstrations.
The Feeling Against Chinese.
'Yet a young American. who was there
In the volunteer corps told me that he was
only sorry he did not get a chance to take
a few shots at the Chinese. That eager
ness for fight has been exhibited in the
United States, and by no less a person
who Is quoted in a San Francisco paper
as saying: Things beginning to look
serious in the east and the action of the
War Department in reinforcing the troops
already in the Philippines will, in my opin-
ion be justified before the end of the
present uprisings. Though the dispatches
thus far seem to Indicate that the outrages
have been confined to English residents in
China, IL is unreasonable to suppose that
the uncomfortable mobs which have hither-
10 wrought such havoc among foreigners
VIII make any distinction of nationality If
| they ever start q massacre. The sentiment
/ IN CHINA is anti-foreign. not anti English
or anti-American. except that they are all
! Caucasians. or course We are ali anxious
TO receive call into the field and If the
| orders come, 1t is not likely that You will
| near remonstrances, except among those
who are left behind A speech of this kind
| from ii man in his position will be given
undue prominence in the eastern press and
| they Will take II as an expression Of The
| American people, rather than the belief
| OF one man.
Grievance Against America.
'Ihe Chinese have a lust grievance
/ against America; the exclusion laws have
/ oeeh harshly applied In many Instances
| and the bars should be relaxed. They de-
/ sire to send students to this country vet
/ students are treated as criminals and IN
| many cases are not admitted or. n admir-,
| ted, are let In only after subn' ding to In
! dignities not offered TO other nations. China
l Is ANXIOUS Tor peaceful settlement The
people are willing and ready To become
| moderniEed and have no desire for any-
/ thing but a peaceful settlement of the boy-
| colt and other questions. But western ma
| tions must recognize the fact that the da "
| i'll which China can be oppressed with i'm
| puntty has now passed. The boycott and
| the riots in Shanghai have shown the
[ people their power, IL united Chinese
! merchants have sacrificed thousands of dol
| lars by supporting the boycott A breach of
| faith, which has done more 10 iniure
| American prestige In the east. occurred
| when Morgan broke the terms of the agree
ment regarding the Hankow railroad The
! road will now be built by Chinese For
| eigners desiring to build other roads viii
not be so cordially received as before that
/ violation of agreement.
| No one can tell where the boycott Will
| end. China Is now pushing NONRESIDENT
| policy; but inflammatory speeches will tend
1 to widen the gulf that has already been