Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-23
NOTED CHINESE
BEARS MESSAGE
OF GRATITUDE
TANG SHA0 II ARRIVES IN SAN
FRANCISCO
DISTINGUISHED oRlENTALs Ac-
COMPANY ENVOY
Famous Men from Land Of the Dragon
Come to Express Gratitude for
Payment of $14,ooo,ooo

L
~ veying to the American govern
~ ment the gratitude of the Chinese
people for remittance of DEBT
amounting to nearly s14,0O0000, Tang
Shao vi. a powerful figure in the al
fairs of the Chinese empire, arrived IN
San Francisco today on the steamer
Mongolia. -.
nation has there arisen occasion for
the appointment of such a commits
sion as is domiciled tonight in the
Fairrnont hotel. and never has a
foreign power been so strongly repre-
sented through diplomatic channels
during the period of crisis OF world
wide import
In his honor the dragon flag flew to-
day from the mastheads of a score OF
vessels in the bay, guns mounted on
the harbor front doomed out sa-
lutte and thousands of his countrymen,
silk robed or silk halted, thronged the
dock where his escort landed
Told of Dowager's Death
Not until the Mongolia dropped an
Choir in the harbor did Tang Shao vi
and his staff learn that the doWager
empress of China was dead.
In Honolulu the cable brought news
of the emperor's death, but said moth
ing of the dangerous illness that
threatened the end of the doWagers
remarkable career. 1t was only when
Hsu Ping Chen, the consul general
at San Francisco, boarded the steam
er with a score of cablegrams from
the far east that the distinguished
visitor was acquainted with the full
extent of the changes that occurred
since his departure
Even the habitual Oriental reserve
did not suffice to conceal his pertur-
bation. and while dignitaries of the
a awaited his al
tention he scanned message after mes
sage apparently unconscious of their
presence.
In accordance with the edict. of
mourning his entire party will remain
practically secluded during its stay of
three days in this city, and the local
Chinese colony's arrangement for cost
ly banquets and other forms Of enter
ment have been Cancelled.
viii Fulfill Mission
In all other respects. however, the
mission of the special embassy will be
fulfilled. and Tang Shao vt, with the
fifty members of his retinue, will go
directly to Washington, where he will
remain until after the inauguration OF
President-elect William H. Taft.
Accompanying the ambassador is
Prince Tsai Flu, youth of q, mem
Der of the royal family cousin of the
late emperor, and himself the most
blooded representative of his race who
has ever set foot on foreign soil.
While he bears the title of first Sec
rotary to the embassy his position is
merely honorary and his journey
abroad, apart from it's educational pur-
poses, is intended as an additional rec
Ognition of the obligation conveyed in
Americas remittance of so large sum
awarded for damages sustained during
the Boxer outbreak.
Among the other secretaries and at
taches who are not distinguished by
graduated rank are Yung Kwai, for ten
years past connected with the Chinese
legation at Washington Chung Nun
Yew, who has been mentioned as the
possible successor to a post high in the
diplomatic service, and Hsu Shin Yang,
the military attache.
Students Come First
AS advance guard of a delegation of
students who are to be educated in
america at the expense of the Chinese
government, came seventeen young
men, members for the most part of
patrician families, who will be entered
at the University of New York and the
University of Washington.
Once during the day did the self
possession Of Tang Shao VI give way.
This was several hours after his ar
rival, when he sat, clothed in a magnifi-
cent robe Of blue in one of the twenty
two apartments in the Fairmont
He had guardedly spoken of the stu
alton in China and returned noncom-
initial answers to score of questions
relating to the probable results of his
visit to Washington. Finally he was
asked TO define exactly the meaning of
his unusual position and his princely
retinue. In reply he said:
Believe us. we have no purpose other
than to show the depth of the heartfelt
gratitude that the government of China
entertains toward the United States
for this fresh demonstration of good
will"
viii Also Deliberate
At another point, while discussing
the developments likely to ensue on
account of the regency and the atti-
tude of the United Sttaes, he remarked:
If there are matters of such grave
import to be decided, I shall doubtless
participate in the deliberations You
must understand that during my stay
in this country 1 outrank the Chinese
minister, and some matters will prob
ably be referred to me for considera-
ton"
with these declarations and this for
NAL statement Tang Shao vi completed
the sum of his public utterances during
the day:
1.-THE news of our emperOrs death
reached us upon our arrival at HOMO
lulu and overwhelmed us with sorrow.
We hoped at first that the press dis
patches might not be true. But a ca
Bile message from Picking soon con-
firmed our worst fears. The loss of our
universally beloved and respected SOW
ereign is nothing short of a national
calamity
Successor to Throne
"The son of Prince Shun, brother to
the late emperor, has succeeded to the
throne, with Prince Chun as regent.
sThe object of my present mission is
to convey to the government and people
of the United States the grateful thanks
for RENTING a portion of the Boxer
part of the United States in this mat
ter has evoked an appreciative response
throughout my country.
"While / am in the United States I
shall take the opportunity to visit diff
to renew the acquaintance OF old
friends and places.
81 spent the days of my boyhoOd in
New England. and have not visited this
country again since my return to China
in 1881 In the meanwhile the United
States has grown immensely in wealth,
prosperity and power. At the same
time vast changes have taken place IN
China.
Il have no doubt that the pleasant