Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-15
JOHN W. FOSTER.


State, dean Of the American diplomatic
corps and father-in-law of Secretary
lansing, died this morning at O'Clock
at his home, 1928 18th street northwest
The immediate cause Of the venerable
diplomats death was an asthmatic trou
BILE, although his advanced years and
failing health had given his family
great concern for more than a year.
Funeral services OF a simple nature are
to be held tomorrow at noon at the Church
Of the Covenant. in which Mr.. Foster
had been an elder since its organization.
Rev. DR.. Charles Wood Is to officiate.
church. The body is to be taken to
Evansville. Ind. Mr.. Fosters old home,
for interment.
A resident Of Washington since 1881,
tho death of the former Secretary of State
removed from the National Capital one OF
its most tHteresting figures. Official Wash
ington was shocked at the news. and great
sorrow was expressed by hundreds Of
friends In all walks of life, who had come
to love Mr.. Foster by reason of his life
long work in the Presbyterian Church.
Interested in Church Work.
Mr.. Fosters interest always centered
in the Presbyterian Church, friends re-
called today. He began his eldershir
in the Walnut Street Presbyterian
Church of Evansville more than fifty
years ago. He took special interest in
the legal advisers of the board of mis-
sions of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr.. Foster was q member of the Phi
Delta Theta fraternity, which he Joined
at the University of Indiana in the
early days Of the fraternity. President
served as Secretary of State. was a
member of Phi Delta Theta. Mr.. Foster
was a member of the Loyal Legion.
Although unable recently to take an
| took the greatest interest in the work
the Church of the Covenant Is doing to
entertain soldiers.
Besides his wife, Mrs. Mary Parke
Foster. two daughters survive-Mrs
Robert Lansing and Mrs. Allen M
Dulles of Auburn. N Y A brother, NJ
W. Foster. lives in Evansville. Mr.
and Mrs. Lansing made their home with
Mr.. Foster.
With a record of practically a hall
century of continuous service in di-
plomacy and the practice of interna.
tional law, John Watson Foster had b
| fair claim to the title Of dean of the
He had been Secretary Of State under
President Harrison. succeeding Mr.
| Blaine when the latter resigned after
| his sensational quarrel with the CHIEF
executive. and had held three separate
commissions as a minister plenipoten
| tiary. Besides that he represented the
! United States in many special treaty
negotiations. had acted as its agent be
fore international commissions ant
| even had been called into the service
| of foreign governments.
| AS Secretary OF State his most nota
| BILE act was. a treaty with the Ameri
cans in Hawaii who had been con
! cerned in the overthrow Of the native
! queen. providing for annexation of the
1 islands to the United States. Presiden
| Harrison's administration was drawing
to close and before the treaty coult
be ratified by the Senate Presiden
| Cleveland took office and withdrew Il
| as his first official act.
| Mr.. Fosters notable services to hi!
: country in diplomatic capacities abroat
were successfully as minister to Mex
! leo. minister to Russia, minister t.
/ Spain and as special p1enipotentiarJ
to negotiate reciprocity treaties witt
Brazil. Spain. Germany and the British
West Indies. Following that he be
came Secretary of State. Later he be
came the agent of tho United State.
at Paris In the Rering sea arbitration
and at the close Of the war between
China and Japan was invited by tn,
Emperor Of China to participate In thu
peace negotiations.
! While the invitation was officially ex.
tended by the emperor Mr.. Foster wa.
| really invited by Ii Hung Chang. whs
published memoirs. speaking affection
ately Of Mr.. Foster not alone as a per.
sonal friend but as a representative Of tn.
friendship Of the United States for China
In her hour Of trial
4 The great Chinese statesman frankly
acknowledges how valuable was the coun.
sci Of the American friend at a moment
when he was confronted with the almos
hopeless task of preserving his country
against the demands Of the victor. Latel
the Chinese government chose Mr.. Foster
as its representative at the second Hague
conference. In 1907.
4 Last Public Work.
| Soon after the peace conference Mr.
Foster went to Russia and Great Britain
i on a special mission for the United
States. On his return he became a mem
ber Of the Anglo-Canadian commission
Then he became the agent Of the United
States at London before the Alasks
was as China's representative at Tn
Hague. in 1907.
Thereafter he lived in comparative re
tirement in Washington, writing hi
memoirs. His daughter became the VIII
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