Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-03-27

Plan to Have Battleships Home Be-
fore Roosevelt Goes Out of Office
Text of Correspondence Between
Minister WI and Secretary Root
Washington, March 25.-The battle
ship fleet will visit China. as well as
Australia and Japan. and will be home
on Washington's birthday, that Pres-
dent Roosevelt may participate in the
welcome before his retirement from Of
flee ten days later.
In deciding at the cabinet session
yesterday to accept the invitation eX-
tended by China, it was also deter
mined that the limit of the social calls
had been reached. ana that all other
Invitations. should any be- extended.
would be declined with appreciative
ana rcgrctfu thanks An earlier de-
parturc than July from san Fran
cisco is being contemplated in arrauu-
ine he cNtc.dcd Itinerary. This. how
ever Will depend ou the repairs ucccs.
sary when the ships reach that port.
NV lliilf'Nt INV iltt iIffIl " IlNll WIS az
ccptcd WAS sent to Secretary Root 10y
Minister Wu at the Lobcst of the minis
try Of foreign affairs III Pekin threads
AS the American fleet has decided tn
visit the Far East ON its tour around
the world. We have tclcgraphcd instruc-
lions to the imperial high commissioner
of trade for 'hr southern ports. Niccroy
Ttan Fang of Marking. to make suit
able preparations in conjunction with
Admiral san chen Ping. to welcome the
fleet to our shores Please extend
formal invitation for the vessels to
visit our ports through the honorable
secretary of state.
I'm transmitting this invitation
through YOU to your government. it is
hardly necessary for me to add that it
is the desire of my government and
people to give expression ON this occa-
sion to the very friendly feelings which
they entertain towards the American
nation and to reciprocate for he many
courle>ics which have been extended
to the representatives of my country on
their visit Ia this country
You viii remember Niccroy Tuan
Fan" as one Of the imperial high com
misSiouers who visited this land three
years ago to make special study az
yoiIr laws ana institutions, and have
no doubt that he considers it special
privilege TO participate in arranging
J the reception to YOU hcct."
TO this Secretary Root replied
81 have thr honor to acknowledge
the receipt of the note OF the 23rd in
slant hy which YOU have conveyed t.
the government Of the United States the
cordial invitation of the Imperial Chi
ncSc government for the American
fleet To visit China while in the Far East.
"The communication of This friendly
action on tine part of Won" government
was at once laid before the president,
ana it is now my agreeable duty to have
the honor of Informing .T"u that the
government of the United States is
most happy to accept the invitation,
which is done with especial qualification
in view of the friendship and mutual
good will which have 50 long existed
between tie American and Chimes"
governments aud peoples.
"In communicating this reply am
compelled To add. however. tina; the n
rangcmcnt> for the cruise of the ne' It
will make it impossible for i f. WISH,
more than one of the ports of China.
lit is noted with pleasure that the
ncet viii be- Welcomed 10y his excel
lcncv. ruan Fang. The yiccroy of Nan
king who is So agreeable recalled as
one of the imperial Chinese high com
! N. ,.flffaI ha rft.l