The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-23
Tang Sbao Vi Arrives h San Francisco in Style
4 MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE
Envoy Learns of Death of Empress Dowaqer Upon Arrival In San Fran cisco and Party Will Be Se-
 cuded for Weeks.

San Francisco, November 22.-Con- veyfng to the American government the gratitude of the Chinese people for re- mittance of debt amounting to near 1y $14,OOo,OOo. Tang Shao Vi, power l ful figure in the affairs of the Chinese 1 empire. arrived in San Francisco today on the steamer Mongolia With him was Prince Tsai Flu, a member of the royal family and large retinue.
 Thrice in the history of the oldest
 nation has there arisen occasion for
 the appointment of such commission
 as is domiciled tonight in the Fair
 mont hotel, and never has foreign l power been so strongly represented 1 through diplomatic channels during the
 period of a crisis of worldwide im- portance. In his honor the dragon flag i flew today form the mastheads of
 score of vessels in the bay, guns mounted on the harbor front boomed l out salute and thousands of his 1 countrymen, si1k-robed or silk -hatted,
 thronged the dock where his escort l landed.
 Not until the Mongolia dropped an
 chor in the harbor did Tang Shao VI
 and his staff learn that the Dowager
 Empress of China was dead. In Hon
 olulu the cable brought news of the 1 Emperor's death, but said nothing
 about the dangerous illness that threatened the end of the Dowager Elm press remarkable career, It was only when Hsu Ping Chen, the consul gen 1 eral at San Francisco, boarded the
 steamer with a score of cablegrams 1 from the far east, that the dis tinguished visitor was acquainted with ! the full extent of tlfs changes that had
 es.c-.rrta si.ree f4sedNpArtu~e. Evan tho
 habitual Oriental reserve did not suf-
 flee to conceal his perturbation and
 while dignltaries of the state and gov
 ernment awaited his attention he
 scanned messa ge after message, appar- ] ently unconscious of their presence. In
 accordance with the edict of mourn i ing his entire party will remain prac- i tfcally secluded during it's stay of three 1 days in this city. and the local Chinese l colony's arrangements for costly ban 1 quets and other forms of entertainment i have been cancelled. In other respects however the mission of the special em-
 bassy will be fulfilled and Tang Shao i Vi. with the 50 members of his re-
 tinue will go directly to Washington, 1 where he will remain until after the 1 inauguration of President-elect Taft. l Position Defined.
 l Once during the day did the self control of Tang Shao Vi give way.
 This was several hours after his ar i rival when he sat clothed in mag nificent robe of blue, in his apartments 1 in the Fairmont. He had guardedly spoken of the situation in China and returned non- -committal answers to j, score of questions relating to the prob l able results of his visit to Washing 1 ton. Finally he was asked to define exactly the meaning of his unusual position and his princely retinue. In reply he said:
 Relieve us, we have no purpose oth- CT than to show the depth of the heart felt gratitude that the government of China entertains toward the United
  good will"
 To another pointed question touch ing developments which might occur in his country, and their bearing upon the relations between the two nations, he remarked:
 If there are matters of grave i'm port to De decided, I shall doubtless participate in the deliberations. You must understand that during my stay in this country I outrank the Chinese ministers and some matters will prob ably be referred to me for considera- tion.
 Object of Mission. "The object of my present mission is to convey to the government and people of the United States the grate- ful thanks of the government and peo- pie of China for remitting a portion of the Boxer indemnity. The generous action on the part of the United States in this matter has evoked an apprecia- tive response throughout the country.
 while I am in the United States I shall take the opportunity to visit dIf- ferent parts of the country, especially to renew the acquaintance of old friends and places. l spent the days of my boyhood in New England and have not visited this country again since my return to China in 1881. 1t is my intention to remain at Washington un- til next March. While l have in view an extensive tour of Europe to look into the financial systems and methods of the different countries, I am not sure whether l shall be able to carry out | my original programme.
 Continuance of Policy.
 we look for a continuance of the policy that has prevailed in China dur ing the past few years We look for no important changes that will affect Chinas relations with other countries. The reports of riots and disturbances in various parts of the empire have been much exaggerated"
 "Is it likely" Secretary Yung Kwai was asked that Chung Mung Few who accompanies your party, will sue ceed minister Wu Ting Fang at Wash ington?
 We have learned nothing of an inn pending change at that post except through unauthorized publications at home and abroad" was the reply T might add that Chung Mung Yew Is now in mourning for his father, and during a period of many months to come will