The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-11-13
MEMOIRS Of JOHN
". FOSTER QUITE
INTERESTING NOW
CONTINUED From Page One.)


to meet for the first time at the Am
erican embassy.
Gen. Foster pays a well deserved
and eloquent tribute to Diaz. and it is
especially appropriate because of the
recent attacks that have been made
upon the latter's character and patrio-
tism in American newspapers and
magazines. But he does not entirely
approve of his policy
After eighteen years at the capital
OF Mexico. Gen. Foster was trans
ferred to st. Petersburg. and spent
several years there in a very inter
esting period of the history of that
country. He was received by Emper-
or Alexander II, who was shortly af-
ter assassinated. and he gives us a
graphic description of the brilliancy of
the Russian court, with personal
sketches Of its most conspicuous fig
ures. He gives us an account of the
assassination Of Alexander II, and the
one OF the most striking passages in
the book
1t was at ST. Petersburg, through
, Marquis Tseng. the Chinese minister,
| that Mr. Foster first took an interest
in the affairs of the celestial empire,
in which he has since played very
important part.
Is Sent to Spain,
in 1883 Mr.. Foster was sent to
Spain during the reign of Alfonso
XII, and his experience there was ex-
tremely important and interesting, be-
cause Of commercial negotiations cou-
corning our trade with Cuba, and eX-
citing local events which included the
tragic death of the king. There is a
charming picture of Mrs. Fosters re-
lations with the widowed queen and
her children.
Mr.. Foster came back from Spain
to practice law in Washington, and
settled down in !: home-like residence
here, but that was not to be permit
ted long, and, in 1891, having been
selected by President Harrison to ne
gotiate the reciprocity treaties auth
orized by the Mckinley tariff act. he
was sent to Spain again to renew his
acquaintance with the public men Of
that kingdom, and to conclude one of
the most important commercial treat
les that has ever been submitted to
the United States senate for ratifica-
ton.
"One of the most important acts
of the authors life. to which he de-
votes especial attention. was the
peace negotiations between China and
Japan after the war of 1895. The
chief commissioners were the late Lii
Hung Chang and the lamented Prince
Ito. who was so cruelty assassinated
in Manchuria the other day. Mr. Fos-
ter does not give himself full credit
for what he did on that occasion. nor
does he give an adequate explanation
of the significance of his advice or
the effect of his influence upon the
subsequent policies of the hostile ma
tons. 1t may be inferred in a meas
ure, however, from the fact that a
committee of Japanese statesmen and
business men led by Baron Shibusa-
wa, the leader of the commercial CON-
mission that is now visiting the Unit
ed States, showed their appreciation
by presenting him with a handsome
pair of cloisonne vases and an ad-
dress in recognition of the perfect
tact that Mr.. Foster exercised
throughout period of difficult and
complicated negotiations.
Very few people know that at the
| conclusion of these negotiations Mr.
Foster was invited to remain in Pekin
as the permanent adviser of the Chin
csc government. and if he had accept
ed that responsibility the subsequent
history of that part of the world might
have been entirely different
Mr.. Foster. as secretary of state,
| took an active part in the transforma-
ton Of Hawaii from a kingdom to a
republic. and the subsequent annex
alton of the islands to the United
States. He gives us an inside account
of that affair and tells us all about
the conference at The Hague
!