The San Francisco call., 1909-12-11
New Chinese Minister Speaks
In Praise Of San Francisco
Continued from Page .

born in Canton SO years ago and is
recognized as the leading diplomat of
Chian today. He is characterized by
tactics distinct and apart from the
jovial school of WI Ting Fang or the
strategic and surprising craftsmanship
of Ii Hung Chang. He prefers to work
in a quiet and unobtrusive way and to
him have been given commissions of
an extremely delicate kind.
He passed the metropolitan examina-
tion in 1892, attaining the literary de-
gree of master of arts, and in 1886 was
registered as magistrate He was ap-
pointed TO Washington in 1898, as sec
retary to the Chinese legation, but
such was his ready adapta tion to Amer
lean ideas that later in the same year
he was created consul general of San
Francisco. He received another pro-
motion in 1899. when he was made
charge d'affaires in Madrid.
His really important work com
menced, however, in 1904, when he was
appointed secretary to the Tang Shao-Yi
special high commissioner to Tibet. The
forbidden land was then the storm cen
ter of the nations of Europe and Asia
Russia had palpabIe designs on it.
Great Britain opposed every Russian
movement there. and was unfaltering
in its purpose to keep the country in
tact and as a buffer between Siberia
and British India. Japan was then
on the verge of war with Russia and
was as anxious as Great Britain to
curtail the powers of Russia in Tibet.
From whatever angle the situation was
viewed 1t looked bad for China, which
was the only country recognized by
the grand llama. Into this turmoil
Chang was placed, and such was his
ability in wriggling his country out of
the most difficult places that he was
appointed imperial high commissioner
TO investigate affairs in Tibet.
The affairs he said, were of great
Importance"
In these few brief words he summed
up the entire imbroglio between Rus
sia and Japan and the "politicaP' entry
Of the forces of Great Britain into the
monastical strongholds of Lassa.
GIVEN HIGH HoNoRs
In 1908 he was appointed councillor
of foreign affairs to the Chinese min
istry and later deputy vice president
of the same ministry. Besides these
honors he was given plenary power in
1903 to act in negotiations then pend
ing between the ChlneSea government
and the government of British India
His present position not only is that
of minister to Washington but his ter
ritory extends over Mexico Cuba and
Peru. In his party are several secre-
taries to legations in these latter
countries.
Probably the largest number of
rooms ever reserved for a foreigner on
a diplomatic or business mission and
his associates and attendants was made
yesterday by Chang Yin Tang, the new
ly appointed minister of China to the
United States. Thirty-f1ve rooms all To-
Gated on the same floor were appor-
toned the oriental visitors. They will
occupy these apartments until Sunday
morning and their account will no
doubt be princely.
When President William Howard
Taft was here the modest suite of five
rooms served him and his immediate
friends; that is, his secretary, his mill
tary aid and two secret service men.
The Chinese minister last night occu-
pied the same suite that President Taft
did in September, but his retinue spread
from one corner of the second floor to
the other. There are about so in the
party and it was not. without reason
that the Chinese flag waved over the ST
Francis hotel yesterday.