Evening journal., 1915-06-22
New News Of Yesterday
How a Delicate Point in
Diplomacy Was Treated
BY Holland.

When Andrew Johnson became
President on the death of President
Lincoln, there was no e-President.
The President pro tempore of the SEN
ate was Lafayette S. Foster, of Con.
necticut, and had President Johnson
died while Senator Foster was the
presiding officer Of the Senate, the
latter under the law as Il then was.
would have become President OF the
United States. Senator Foster was,
during the civil war and until the
end of his term, greatly interested in
our foreign relations and he was an
influential member of the Senate in
all matters appertaining 70 our
foreign affairs. The Senator regarded
the visit of Anson Burlingame TO the
United States at the head of the first
Chinese Embassy commission by the
regency to make a tour Of the world
as perhaps the most important step
Ia IFS ultimate effect upon our trade
relations that had been taken by any
nation. Senator Foster was friend
OF Mr. Burlingame, and as he was
we'll Informed respecting diplomatic
usages and etiquette he was seriously
concerned lest a most embarrassing
and really unpleasant incident would
take place when Mr. Burlingame Wis
tied the White House at the head Of
the Chinese Embassy.
Burlingame had retired. as he
thought. to private life after a SER
vice Of several terms I'm the lower
House CT Congress when 90 his aston
ishment he was notified that Presi-
dent Lincoln had determined TO ap-
point him Minister to China. He ac-
oepted the appointment. ending ne
gotiaticns which he had begun with
an eminent lawyer of Boston, having
in mind the resumption of law prac-
tice in Boston.
Probably no minister from the
. United States went to a foreign ma
tion who ever so completely gained
the respect and confidence of the
people Of the nation 10 which he was
accredited as did Mr. Burlingame. The
ruling authorities Of China were per-
suaded by him 10 commission an
embassy which was to visit the United
States, and after that to return to
China by way OF Europe and Russia
Mr.. Burlingame was appointed special
minister representing China and was
clother with certain plenipotentiary
powers.
After Senator Foster retired tc
private life. and while he was serv-
! ing as Judge upon the bench of the
highest court in Connecticut he was
! accustomed to speak TO his friends
with enthusiasm Of Burlineame's visr
az head OF the Chinese embassy. But
he never narrated what was the fact
that il was chiefly due 10 his skill
and diplomatic sagacity that Presi-
dent Johnson received Anson Bur
/ lingame as the representative oi
China
The embarrassment, according tC
Senator Foster. was created by thu
fact that Mr.. Burlingame was still
minister from the United States q
China. and yet he was to seek audi
ence with the President as ministe
from China TO the United States. I
occurred 10 Senator Foster that IN
ruler of China was q boy. so that
regency had been established; there
fore il could be said truthfully enoug
that Mr. Burlingame did not represen
the emperor of China-for there wa
nc emperor, but came at the head q
the Chinese embassy II was a yer
fine point to make but il served an
il was the suggestion of Senator Fos
ter to the State Department whic
made il possible To utilize the fac
that there was no emperor but only
regency. 1t was for that reason tha
! Burlingame and his embassy were re