New-York tribune., 1922-06-24
WI Tin g-fang,
Former Envoy
ToU. S., Is Dead
Famous Oriental Statesman
Cast His Lot With sun
Yat-sen and Joined Him
i'm Flight From Canton
Built First Chinese X. X.
Recalled i'm Boxer Troubles
for Expressing sympathy
for L. s. but Rcappointed

SHANGHAI. June % by The A.
fociated prcssl.- WI Tlnc-fanc. fo;-
NOR Minister 70 Wasf'nrf ~. more &c
Gently Foreign Minister for Sun lat'
sen .n the disrupted southern tepuo-
ican government p: Canton died at
Cantcr This morning, according 20
Reuter- despatch.
W. Iire-fsng. one Of tho bes. known
ard most important Chinese states
rae- since the famous IL Hung chang.
vas Cantonese. or Southern China.
man. and Uas born In 1872. The place
a his birth has been variously stated.
as in Kvanc-'ung Province. and AZ
Singapore. mo former bci-e moro
probGbiy correct lie was educate -
Canton and a. Hongkong. and then
went % England. studied law % LIN
coins Inn and was admitted 20 tho
Tar on hie wa back - China nc
spent some time m 'he United S.a'"s.
studying politics and higher odrcn' IN.
Hc entered public lifc ir l's4. "nea
T. Hurc-chang made nlm icgni ad'
wiser o. the Ministry TO- Foreign AZ
fairs Then he became Interested IN
railroads and bui the 'rst railroad IN
China. This led o. his appointment as
roau. Ia lsq. he was made chief al
rector of t1o 7 cn-fsIn Jairc rsity;
thcr secretary 90 the peace mission 20
japan and picrlp1tc1f f0r eN-
changing rotfcatons o. the peace
treaty 49,
Came Here in 1927
lie was rst appointed Minister 90
the United States in 1897, and tlled
tha, place until 1902 His familiarity
with American affairs. lis faciie use
- cp.crarr.'lc English spccch. his
shrewd wil Dnd profound wisiom. sno
his genial pcrsonality, made him a
welcome guest and n fIcQucn. speaker
a. dinners and on other public occa-
sions His warm regard for America
led him % exert ali possible influence
for the cultivation Of closcr relations
between this country and China. lie
was recalled because Of his outspoken
svmrathicS with America @. the time
OF the Boxer troubles.
Nj WI was rcappo.1tcd 70 Wash
irgson in 1907 and served there until
'he revolution IN China. In 1911 he
personally advised the Prince Regent
10 abdicafe the throne. and two years
later he issued an appeal 20 The world
for recognition Of the Chinese Repub-
lie. He Joined Sun Yat-scn and Loyalty
stood By him 20 tho last. He was
Foreign Minister in 1916. and In 1917
President Ii Yuan-hung appointed him
Prime Minister. an Office which falling
health permitted him 20 hold only a
short time. His last act IN that Office
was 70 urge that China should follow
the example Of the United States and
declare war against Germany.
Tried TO Reunite Nation
when civil war occurred in China he
was foremost in organizing the Canton
government, and he signed the memo
vial which was sent TO Washington
charging Japan with having fomented
the troubles He laborei long and
earnestly 70 reunite the nation and 20
organize a united Parliament. but was
unable TO achieve those ends. The
Peking government requested him 20
come 20 Washington as member OF
the Conference on Limitation OF ArmH-
mont. but he declined.
Last month he succeeded General
Chen as Civil Governor OF kwang-
furQ. when the latter had been forced
ou. Of oflce by Sun Yat-sen, and on
June II he WIS appointed Prime Min
.ter, but the appointment was immedi-
a,ely Cancelled and instead he was
merely invited 10 accept the Office. In
stead OF accepting IL. however. he stuck
& ~ his old friend Sun Yat-sen and fed
, from Canton with him. only 20 co 20 a
hospital and die ~ tho age Of eighty.
instead Of the 125 which he had said
he would attain.
Mr. WI received the honorary degree
of LID. from several American uni.
vcrsities and contributed number o.
interesting articles 10 American and
English magazines. He was married
20 a charming and accomplished Chinese
woman. who was a great favorite IN
American society and who bore him
one son.