Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-31
John w. Foster Appears at In
quiry Into Ward Claim.
DECLARES 1T WAS JUST
Committee Decides to Drop Investi-
CATION of Matter.
LETTER OF MINISTER CoNGER
Calls Adjustment of Case One of
Most Difficult Tasks He
Ever Attempted.

The congressional inquiry into the pay
Indemnity fund OF S:6S,GD0 in settlement
of a half-century- old claim presented by
the heirs of Gen. +. T. Ward was con-
cluded here today Former Secretary Of
state John W. Foster, who was attorney
FOR the claimants. appeared before sub
committee of the House committee on ex-
penditures in the State Department and
made detailed statement Representa-
tives Hamln of Missouri and Dent of
Alabama were present Representative
Davis of Minnesota, the other member of
the subcommittee, was absent.
Mr.. Foster insisted that the Ward claim
was just and should have been paid long
ago. but admitted that he was the only
man who could have secured a settle
ment- He was able to succeed where
others had failed, he said. through the
personal influence he was able to exert
at Peking. Mr.. Foster and Robert Lam
sing received half of the amount of the
award as their fee.
After the former Secretary of State
had concluded his statement today Rep
sentative Dent remarked that so far as
he was concerned there was nothing
more to the Investigation
Mr. Fosters Retort.
Mr.. Foster smiled and remarked that
if Chairman Hamlin had been in pos
session of the facts ''he never would
have started this Investigation
But Mr.. Foster added, .'some gen
tlemen who thought they knew a great
deal about it seem to have had his ear"
And am not entirely satisfied yet"
MIR. Hanlin remarked.
1 do not ask your opinion" Mr. Fos-
ter rejoined.
The committee undertook the inves-
tlgation because it appeared that after
the chinese government had repeatedly
refused to settle the claim, which
originated in 1862, upon the death of
Gen. F. T. Ward. who had been the
general in command Of the Ever Vic
torious Army" and had been largely
instrumental in putting down the Tai
Ping rebellion. Secretary Hay had au-
thorized th> payment of principal and
interest out of the Boxer indemnity
fund of 1900. 1t was explained today
by MIR. Foster that at the request of
the Chinese government the protocol
providing for the payment of the Box
er indemnity had been SO amended as
to cover the Ward claim as we'll The
former Secretary of State laid before
the committee all the documents bear
Ing on the case, including a letter to
him from United States Minister Con-
ser at Peking
This letter is marked personal and
confidential" said Mr.. Foster but
as Minister Conger is dead and as see
no impropriety in making it public at
this time. 1t can so into the record"
Letter of Minister Conger.
I'm this letter Mr. Conger, who had
just learned that the Chinese govern
ment was willing to pay the claim.
said that he had to stretch his in
structions' in order to achieve tnat
result; that 1t was one Of the most
difficult jobs he had ever undertaken:
that he had made it almost a personal
matter with Prince Ching then presi-
dent or the foreign board. and that he
suggested 1t not be given out too pub
licly that the Ward claim was to be
paid out Of the indemnity fund"
Mr.. Foster acknowledged his Indebted
ness to Liang Cheng. a personal friend.
who was later minister to the JInited
States. who urged on Prince Ching ia
vora BILE action on the claim and made
possible its payment.
Then you are the only man wLO could
have secured the payment of this claim"
suggested Chairman Hamlin
THAT has been said,' Mr. Foster re-
turned. but it Is not for me TO say it,
Mr.. Foster denied there had been any
improperly in the whole matter He
admitted that while pressing TIE claim
against the Chinese government he had
been under an annual retainer from that
government. but said there was nothing
in this employment To keep him from
appearing as counsel for the Ward heirs
Secretary Hay had been satisfied, he ss I'd
that the payment could properly be made
and Secretary Root, who later examined
the transa ction, was of the same opinion