The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-22
'AGAlNTHEYD DINE MINISTER WI
THE ASIATIC ASSOCIATION ONCE
SAID FAREWELL FOREVER,

That Our Relations Win hint Arc
Friendly Disclalms Responsibility for
the BOyeOtt-Seth Low on Roosevelt.
His Excellenoy W. Ting.tang. Chinese
Minister TO the United States, bad the
laugh on his friends Of the American Asiatio
Association last evening, and he enjoyedlt
much in the manner Of the man who turns
I'D after his friends have buried him. II
was for Minister WI that the association
FIVE years ago had a farewell banquet
and sent him back to China with express
sions Of deep regret, as voiced by one
speaker, that they should see his lace no
more
Minister WI on that occasion ook eX-
ception to this sentiment, but there were
rumors that he had incurred the displeasure
Of his Imperial Majesty and some OF the
members saw visions Of his head rolling
In a basket, perhaps.
Last night was Wu's first appearance az
an after dinner speaker since his return
and he showed that he had not forgotten
the luxurious nature Of that farewell hVe
years ago. Dressed in those robes OF yel!o"
Sik that were 80 familiar then he sat az the
right Of President James K. Morse al
the dinner given him 10y the ASSOCIATION
last evening at Delmopico's, and smiled IKE
a wise Chinaman at the compliments that
were passed to him.
All Of the members turned Ot to welcome
WI back again. Seated at the head table
we're Huntington Wilson, Third Assistant
Secretary Of State, Lowell Lincoln, Judge
A. r. Whitley Of the United States Court az
Shanghai; Seth Low, John Barrett, h.
MidNlno, Japanese Consul-General; John
Foord, W. s. HO, Chinese Consul, and
Kwan Wing Lin, First Secretary Of the
Chinese Legation.
In his speech Of welcome President Morse
Eaid that there never was a time when
there we're 80 few matters Of controversy
between this country and China requiring
diplomatic treatment, and that the happlest
Algury Of the future was the sending back
OF Minister WI. This brought every one
to his feet with cheers except WI, who
smiled in that knowing way Of hts.
When he faced the waving napkins WI
recalled that little incident Of the last
dinner when they had been asked to look
for the last time upon his face. He said
that he hadn't found fault with this because
he was superstitious, for be wouldn't have
been there AT all n hat had been the case.
The dinner, he reminded them. was fixed
for the thirteenth day Of November.
Il thought the sentiment was too sad
and too narrowing" said WI. with that
smile. i thought at that time that al
though 1t was not likely [ would return to
this country. yet | hoped to see many OF
the members Of this association In China
But since | could not induce you to visit
me in China have now come to see you in
this country again"
China, said WI, had become more modern
lied since he had departed and this meant
more trade for Americans. Then Minister
WI went on 10 disclaim all responsibility
for the boycott Of two years ago for which
he got the credit in some quarters. any
OF his friends present had had any doubts
about Wa in this matter they had them
speedily dispelled by what Mr., Wa said
and the way he said 1t.
Il can say that it was one Of the most
malicious libels that could he invented
against a person, as it had not the least
foundation, " said WI bringing his fist dow
on the table and shaking his silken robes,
THE boycott was started in Shanghai
and in the south Of China while / was one
Of the Ministers in the Wai-Wu-Pu Uhe
Foreign Ofice) in Pekin, and | and my
colleagues were doing all We could 10 stop
the agitation. To blame me and hold me
responsible for the carrying out OF the
boycott ia just like accusing a Judge who
tried a person charged with an ofiense OF
abetting the person in lis commission. |
believe any person who knows me would
not give credenoe to this absurd rumOr.
How ever, the incident is closed, the
boycott is a thing Of the past and hope
. that nothing Of the sort will occur again,
After years Of slumber our people, the
most inteli gent portion Of our people,
have had a feeling Of nationalism stir within
their breast. Whatever YOU may dub it
patriotism, unrest or what not II is there,
and the people are very sensitive about It,
which we know from experience is natural
both with individuals and with nations.
Now there are some people who would
poke fun at this feeling, dsparage II, or
even suggest its suppression by forcible
measures or by demonstration
1t Is needless to say that this narrow
mindedness and this shortsighted view
when voiced in the foreign press in China
and translated and published in the native
papers do not tend TO pacify or soothe the
feeling or, to express II 10 another way, pro-
ducA the feelings which oleaginOus liquids
are supposed 10 do when poured on troubled
waters. The effect Is just the opposite. 1t
may be likened TO the pouring Of oil on a
FIRE.
-When you study the foreign relations
Of my country for the last half century or
% ! feel sure you will make some allowance
for this feeling Of resentment and indlgna-
ton on the part Of my people, n the teel-
ing Of utter helplessness against violence
and wrong only increases the bitterness OF
the soul.
The American people. approaching with
their greatness Of mind and soul all the
weakness and exaggerations OF a newborn
shirt, have treated it with consideration,
and have adopted the proper view that this
spirit marks the true awakening OF nina
and that whatever faint OF anti-torelRn
feeling with which il is imbued will rapidly
disappear as soon as IL is understood that
the M ion against whom hostility IL eK-
hibited is really a friend in disguise. -,
-China's relations with America will
always remain friendly. You may be sure
acts Of kindness and fairness, such as the
return or waiver Of over S10,OOO,OOO TO
China. will certainly create a most favor
able impression in China and strengthen
the bond Of friendship between the two
countries, and the existence OF an important
and influential association like this | con-
slider a safety valve OF the two nations.
No more Misunderstanding, | feel sure,
can occur In the future
Seth Low in responding TO a toast to
President Roosevelt said that he had car
RED out the policy initiated by Secretary
Hay and that when he sent the American
battleships around 10 the Pacific he had
taken a step calculated to have a most
important bearing on the history OF the
coming century.
while recognizing that out Of the eye
of China forty centuries look down upon
us" he said. "the President also recognized
that in those eyes there is also the spirit OF
a young and new life
There we're only a few seattle red cheers
when the toast to the President TO which
MFR. Low responded, was drunk; Possibly