The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-11-23
WISHES TO SHOW
HER GRATITUDE
Arrival of Commission Bring
inc Message of Peace and
Good Will From China.
HEADED BY TANG SHA0 VI
WILL GO INTO MOURNING FOR
EMPEROR AND DoWAGER.

san Francisco Nov 22.--COnVeying TO
the American government the gratitude
Of the Chinese people for remittance of a
debt amounting to nearly S14,09eOOo, Tang
Shao vi a powerful figure in the affairs
of the Chinese empire arrived in San
Francisco today on the steamer MOngO-
la. With him was Prince Tsai Flu. a
member Of the royal family, and large
retnue.
Thrice, in the history of the oldest ma
ton has there arisen occasion for the
appointment Of such a commission as is
domiciled tonight in the Fairmont hotel
ana never mas foreign POWER been SO
strongly represented thro lSh diplomatic
channels during the period of a crisis of
worldwide import
In his honor the dragon flag flew to-
day from the mastheads of a score of
vessels in the bay, and guns mounted on
the harbOr front doomed out a salute
Thousands Of his cOuntrymen silk rObed
or silk hated, thronged the dock where
his escort landed.
Told of Dowaqer's Death.
Not until the Mongolia dropped anchor
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 nothing of the dangerous illness
that threatened the end of the dowager's
remarkable career. II was only when
Hsu Ping Chen. the consul general at
San Francisco, boarded the steamer with
score Of cablegrams from the far east
that the distinguished visitor was ac-
qiIainted with the full extent of the
changes that had occurred since his de-
parture. Even the habitual oriental re-
serve did not suffice TO conceal his per-
;urbatiOn, and while dignitaries of the
state awaited his attention he scanned
message after message, apparently I'M
conscious of their presence.
In accordance with the edict of mourn
ing, his entire party Will remain practi-
cally secluded during its stay of three
days in this city. and the local Chinese
colony's arrangements for costly banquets
and othei forms of entertainment have
been cancelled. In all other respects,
however. the mission Of the special en-
bassy will he fulfilled and Tang Shao
vi. with the fifty members of his reti-
nue., viii go directly to Washington, where
he will remain until after the Inaugural
ton of President-elect William H Taft.
Members of the Party.
Accompanying the high commissioner
is Prince Tsai Flu, youth of q, a men,
Der Of the royal family. a cousin of the
late emperor and himself the most blue
biooded representative of his race who
has ever set foot on foreign soil While
he bears the title of first secretary TO
the embassy. his position is merely
honorary, and his journey abroad, apart
from its educational purpose. is intend
ed as an additional recognition of the
obligation conveyed IN Americas remit /
tance of so large portion of the indem-
MY dWE NGeu IOr damages sustained dur
ing the Boxer outbreak
Among the other secretaries and at
taches, who are not distinguished by grad
uated rank are Yung Kwa, for years
past connected with the Chinese legation
at Washington; Chung Nun Yew VINO
has been mentioned as q possible success
sor to a post high In the diplomatic serv-
Ice, and Hsu Shin Yang, the military at
tache.
AS advance guard Of an annual dele
cation OF students who are to be edu- |
Gated in America at the expense of the |
Chinese government came seventeen /
young men. members for the most part /
OF patrician families. who will be en- /
tered at the University Of New York and 1
the University Of Washington.
Heartfelt Gratitude.
Once during the day did the self-pos-
session of Tang Shao vi give way. This
was several hours after his arrival when
he sat, clothed in a magnificent robe of
blue in one of the twenty-five apart
Ihents in the Fairmont. He had guarded
~ spoken OF the situation in China and
returned non-committal answers to a
score OF questions relating TO the prob
able 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 goodwill"
At another point, while discussing the
developments likely to ensuo on account
of the regency and the attitude of the
United States, he, remarked:
IF there are matters Of such grave
Import 10 be decided l shall doubtless par
ticipate in the deliberations. You must
understand that during my stay in this
country l outrank the Chinese minister,
and some matters viii probably be re-
ferred 10 me for consideration"
Formal Statement.
With these declarations. and the follow
ing formal statement. Tang Shao vi COM
pleted the sum of his public utterances
during the day:
The news of the emDeror's death
reached as upon our arrival at Honolulu.
and overwhelmed us with sorrow. we