Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-24
PRINCE TANG SHAO VI HERE
Special Mission from China Reached
San Francisco Yesterday.
WILL REMAIN UNTIL MARCH
Says 10 Big Problems Come Up
During Ais stay He May
Assist In C~nsiderInE
Them.

Them.
SAN FRANCISCO. Nov. &-Conveying to
the American government the gratitude Of
the Chinese people for remittance Of a debt
amounting to nearly S14.OOO,O 600. Tang shao
VI a powerful figure in the affairs OF the
Chinese empire. arrived in San Francisco
today on the steamer Magnolia. with him
was Prince Tsai Eu, a member Of the royal
family, and a large retinue.
Thrice in the history Of the oldest nation
has there arisen occasion for the appoint
ment Of such a commission as is domiciled
tonight in the Fairmont hotel, and never
has a foreign power been 80 strongly repre-
scented through diplomatic channels during
the period Of a crisis Of worldwide import.
In his honor the dragon flag flew today
from the mastheads Of a score Of vessels
in the bay, guns mounted on the harbor
front doomed out a salute and thousands
Of his countrymen, silk-robed or silk-hatted,
thronged the dock where his escort landed.
Not until the Magnolia dropped anchor
in the harbor did 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 about the dangerous illness that threat
ened the end of the dowager empress re-
markable career. II was only when Hsu
Ping Chen, the consul general at San Fran
cisco, boarded the steamer with a score of
cablegrams from the far east that the dis
tinguished visitor was acquainted with the
full extent of the changes that had oc-
CURED since his departure. Even the
habitual oriental reserve did not suffice TO
conceal his perturbation. and while digni-
taries of the state and government awaited
his attention, he scanned message after
message. apparently unconscious of their
presence.
Special Functions Declared on.
In accordance with the edict of mourning
his entire party will remain practically
secluded during his stay of three days in
this city and the local Chinese colony's4
arrangements for costly banquets and other
forms of entertainment have been Cancelled.
In other respects. however, the mission of
the special embassy will be fulfilled and
Tang Shao vi, with the fifty members of
his retinue, Will go directly to Washington,
WHERE ne will remain until after the inaug-
urstion of President-elect William II. Taft
Accompanying the high commissioner is
Prince Tsai Flu, a youth of q, member or
the royal family, a cousin Of the late EN-
peror and himself the most blue-blooded
representative of his race who has ever
set foot on foreign soil. While he bears
the title of first secretary to the embassy.
dis position is merely honorary, and his
journey abroad. apart from its educational
purpose, is intended as an additional recog-
milton of the obligation conveyed in Amer
ica's remittance of so large a portion of
the indemnity awarded for damages sus-
tanned during the Boxer outbreak.
AS advance guard OF an annual delegation
Of students who are to be educated in
America at the expense of the Chinese gov
eminent, came seventeen young men, mem
bers for the most part Of patrician families,
who will be entered at the University of
New York and the University of Washing
ton.
Once during the day did the self-posses-
F 1 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 apartments in the
Fairmont. He had guardedly spoken OF
the situation in China and returned nom
commital answers to a score of questions
relating to the possible 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 other purpose
other than to show the depth OF the heart
felt gratitude that the government of China
entertains toward the United States for
this fresh demonstration Of good will"
Outranks Chinese Minister.
At another pointed question while dis
cussing the developments which are likely
to ensue on account OF the regency and
the attitude of the United States, he re-
marked:
IF there are matters of such grave inn
port to be decided l shall doubtless partici-
pate in the deliberations. You must under
stand that during my stay in this country
] outrank the Chinese minister and some
matters will probably be referred to me
for consideration"
With these declarations and the follow
ing statement, Tang Shao vi completed the
sum of his publicity utterances during the
day:
The news of the emperor's death
reached us upon arrival at Honolulu and
overwhelmed us with sorrow. We hoped
at first that the press dispatches might
not be true. But a cable message from
Peking soon confirmed our worst fears.
me loss OF our universally loved and
respected sovereign is nothing short OF
a national calamity. The son OF Prince
Chun, brother to the late emperor. has
succeeded to the throne, with Prince
Chun himself as regent.
tThe object of my present mission is
to convey to the government and people
of the United States the grateful thanks
Of the government and people of China
for renting a portion of the Boxer in
demnity. The generous action of the
United States in this matter has evoked
an appreciative response throughout the
country.
Looking for Information.
while 1 am in the United States |
shall take the opportunity to visit diff
ferent parts of the country, especially TO
renew the acquaintance OF old friends
and places. l spent the days OF my boy
hood nj New England. and have not
visited this country again since my re-
turn 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
L. NJ