Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08
Tells of His Pleasure in Re.
turning to Washington.
GRAVE AT JAPAN'S ACTION
Regards It as Too Serious for Pub.
lie Discussion.
DEPRECATEs ALL TALK OF WAR
Will Present His Credentials to the
State Department Tomorrow
or Tuesday.

WI Ting-fang has returned to Washing.
ton to be once more the representative OF
the celestial empire to this country and.
incidentally. to add to the gayety OF ma
tions with his comments on men and
things. Minister Wu is glad TO get back
to his former post, and says so enthusi-
astcaly. He looks much older than he
did. and yesterday he was tired from his
long journey across the continent. and
also not little worried over the news
of the ultimatum delivered to his govern
ment by Japan.
The first Washingtonian to welcome
Minister WI back to the city was re-
porter for The Star who boarded the
diplomats special train just after it halted
in the Union station at $40 yesterday
evening
that he was from The Evening Star the
minister said: And my dear old friend
Crosby Noyes, is dead He expressed his
deep sorrow, and declared that Mr.. Noyes
had been a good friend to him during his
former life in Washington.
Mr.. WI. who was still in his stateroom.
went on TO tell how pleased he was to he
in America.
When | put my foot upon your soil I
feel l am one of you and one with you,"
he declared
Are you likely to take out naturaliza-
ton papers this time. MIR. Wu?" asked the
reporter.
"Ah." replied Mr.. WI. deprecatingiy.
mot until your laws upon the subject are
modified"
But" it was suggested You are a
student. you know. and may be that will
help.
Il fear not" he said with another shake
of his head.
The Japanese Ultimatum.
He was beamng and shed smiles with
lavish generosity until the reporter
showed him a copy of The Star containing
dispatch from Peking announcing that
Japan had delivered an ultimatum to
China. requiring an apology for hauling
down the flag Of the Japanese vessel Tat
su Maru. seized by the Chinese customs
omcers February q; the restoration OF
ooth vessel and cargo and payment of in
demnity. together with a threat of i'm
mediate action" in case OF default or post
pOnement.
While Minister WI was reading the
dispatch his face became grave and Ii was
plain that he was thinkng hard and
anxiously.
At last he looked up from the paper and
said: There will be no war That ship
anair Is too trifling to embrol two great
nations. But / must not speak Of It. 1t
IS 100 serious. must wait until j can
u 1f. i
there should be no war and / cannot feel
that there will be-"
He was asked if the mediation of tbe
Cnited states government would be pos
acute.
"Oh, yes" Mr.. WI replied. Mediation
would be possible. Your President stopped
one war-a great war. He is a friend of
peace"
The minister then pleaded fatigue and
excused himself.
AT the station to meet the returned en-
voy and his party were three members Of
the chinese legation and the proprietor Of
one of the Chinese restaurants. The dip
lomats were T. r. Liang. commercial at
tache; WI Chang. attache. and Ho Wing
yan. student Interpreter. They will re-
main at the legation. The rest of the
present staff. however. will be scattered.
the party brought by Minister WI taking
their places.
In addition to the three officials men
toned above. the following, who arrived
with the minister. will make up the lega-
ton STAFF: On Shou tchun. first secre-
tary; DR. We-ching w. Yen. second sec
retary: kuei Chin. junior second secre-
tary: kuang Ying-lin first interpreter;
Kong L. Chung. second interpreter: Lin
Shih-yuen. attache: Yuan Kos shuan at
tache. and Ho Wing-yan, student inter-
prefer.
At the Legation.
Minister WI drove from the station d.
rectly to the legation. 2O0l 18th street.
where everything ready for his re-
ception. His first caller was Mr.. John W.
Foster former Secretary of State, who Is
officially connected with the Chinese en-
pire as counselor on foreign affairs and
represents that government at The Hague
conferences. Mr. Fosters call lasted un-
til o'clock. but ii was said that the Jap
anese ultimatum was not discussed.
The minister then received the news
~<~l-n -, g HI MIA
ure at returning 10 Washington, but he
avoided the Japanese question as much as
possible. In answer to direct questions.
however. he said that the whole thing
he had not got himself adjusted to II yet
II must wait" he declared. until the
news is either confirmed or contradicted.
which latter. | hope. will be the case
The dispatch says that the Tatsu Maru
was carrying arms for insurgents. your
eycellency. Is there. then, a state of re-
bellion in any part of China which war
rants the use of such an expression? MI.
WI was asked.
No Chinese Rebellion.
No" he replied. fatty. There is No
insurrection. no uprising China is in a
state of making over. Of reformation, ahi
in that sense there is general unrest.
for we cannot please everybody. Ii is
lust as l. is here in your country. where
there ere always some who are dissaiis-
fed Bu. rebellion? No.
The envoy said that Monday or TUESDAY
he should present his credentials TO the
State Department and learn when 1t would
be the Presidents pleasure to receive MN.
Until that time he said. he would rest
from his journey. Nine. WI, he added.
would reach Washington in two months.
having remained at home 10 complete cer-
tain domestic arrangements
The minister's trip from China occupied
thirty-three days. He was. Twenty-Five
days on shipboard. stopped four days in
San Francisco and was our days cross
ing the continent.
During his former term OF service as
Chinese minister in Washington. Nr. Nu
made many friends, and they will find
him little changed-somew what gray and
somewhat older-but the same WI Ting
fang.