Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-22
4AU REv0|R" TO WI.
Business Men Call on Retiring
Chinese Minister.
WOULDN'T SAY FAREWELL
Genial Diplomat Declares He Is
Coming Back Again in About
Fifty Years.

Business men of Washington assembled
late yesterday afternoon at the Chinese
legation to bid farewell to Dr. WI Ting
fang, the retiring Chinese minister, and
to express regret at his recall. Among
the delegation were the presidents of the
Washington Board of Trade and the
Chamber of Commerce. Minister WI de-
clared that he would return to Washing
ton some day for visit. if not in an
| official capacity; and those present ex-
pressed the hope that he would be re-
turned here as Chinese ambassador.
| The visitors were introduced by B. H.
| Warner as they reached the legation.
Gen. George H. Harries, president of the
Board of Trade. expressed the regrets of
| that organization at the minister's de-
parture, and w. F. GUIDE, president of the
Chamber of Commerce, expressed the re-
grets Of the members of that body
Il am obliged to you for coming here
| today" said DR.. WI. land I think you
should say au revOir. and not goodbye,
because some day 1 hope to come back
and see you. This gathering is not large,
but it is so representative, and even
though 1 do live for 200 years, I shall
never forget this. I first came to your
country thirteen years ago. and before l
came l thought your people were peculiar,
just as many of you think that my people
are peculiar. But 1 met your people, and
was the first to mingle with them and
attend their functions.
Knows Us Better Now.
Not. only here in your Washington
have l studied you, but l have made
many friends in your other cities, and
in some of those cities they have been
good enough to invite me to their func-
| tons. SO l had chance to know them
better.
1T is the same way with you. You are
SO busy that you do not know us. 1t is
not your fault, but you have judged
China somewhat by the ignorant classes
who have come here, because you did
not have chance to see our. better edu-
Gated people, who believe it is best to
stay at hcfne. To go abroad is danger
GUS is a proverb of my country.
Il believe in commerce, and there are
many things that you have and we need.
Many years ago we thought we had
everything we wanted in the vast re-
sources of China. but through travel we
have learned we can use many of your
things. But two things are essential
that we understand you and you under-
stand us. That can be done by sending
your agents to China to study what we
need that YOU can give US, and by well
coming our travellers and Students to
your United States. You must find out
what China wants and encourage our
merchants to come to America.
Coming Back in 1859.
Il promised some of my friends in Bal
tmore the other day that 4 would come
back and see them in 1859. and l will
make the same pledge to you, If a man
lives as he should and does not get sick
or have an accident, why should he die?
So if you will follow my advice we will
all meet again then, ii not sooner.
Mr.. Warner said in presenting Gen.
Harries:
Il cannot say goodbye to you. DR.. WI,
but / will say au revoir. We want you to
return as an ambassador, and we know
that you will not forget us. We are
gratihed at the interest you have taken
in our National Capital, and we believe
you will profit by the questions you have
asked us-especially the young women
and old men, Dr.s Wu-when you return
to China -.
Gen. Harries expressed the hope of the
business men of Washington that DIR
WI would return to Washington as am
baSsador.
THE Washington Board of Trade re-
members with pleasure your Interest" he
said, land we hope to greet you with
DIX WHtIl Sou ISluII HSAC.
do not think we are seeing you for the
last time.
Those who called on the minister were
Commi ssioner Judson, Commissioner Mac
farland, Gen. T. S. Hopkins. Rev. DR..
Wallace Radcliffe, B. H. Warner. f.. s.
Parker. Rev. DIR. Henry Runner, William
F. Guide f. c. Graham, Fl. b. Davidson,
|~Col. John McElroy, r. E. Pairo, Col. IL.
D. B.ount, A. B. Browne, Louis p. Shoe
Harries s. w Woodward. James r.
Oyster, Charles j. Bell, A. Lisner and
Thomas Grant.