Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1891 — BLAIR RECALLED. [ARTICLE]

BLAIR RECALLED.

The Chinese Government ’jb Objections Respected by Secretary Blaine. Fear of “Strained Relations” Not Likely to Arise from It—Mr. Blair In ter vie wed.....

Secretary Blaine, on the 29th of April, declined to talk about Minister Blair being unacceptable to the Chinese government further than to say that the matte: was a diplomatic affair and he did not care to say any thing about it for publication oi notice and reply to newspaper speculation! about it. Minister Yen, at the Chinese legation, would only [say through an interpreter that he had received a dispatch from his home government expressing the unwillingness of the Emperor to rechive Mr. Blair, which he was instructed to lay before Secretary Blaine without delay. This, he said, was the only instructions he had received oq the subject, but he declined to furnish a copy of the dispatch or to State the reasons for this action. While the dispatches giving reasons for not receiving Mr. Blair in China is a profound secret, everbody understands that it is because he is opposed to Chinese immigration to this country, The published report that Mr? Blair's commission had been made out with his location abroad left blank, so that if noj acceptable to China he could be sent to Japan, is regarded as absurd everywhere in diplomatic circles. Mr. Blair.it is believed, has by this time been officially notified of the feeling of the Chinese government in'the matter.

Among department officials there is a general indisposition to discuss the subject of Mr. Blair’s rejection. Still it is evident that there is no general desire to magnify the Incident into the proportions of a dip. lomatic rupture. It is a long.established rule of diplomacy that a nation is not obliged to accept a minister who is not persona grata, and that a rejection on that account is not to be construed into an intended affront to the dignity of the natioq which sends the minister. The United States hesitated for a long time to fully indorse this rule, and .phowed some resentment when the Austrian government, during the last administration, asked thaf Minister Kelly be not sent to Austria as United States minister. But about the time of the Sackville-West episode the United States, represented by Mr. Cleve. land, became an enthusiastic adherent of the policy that a nation is not bound to receive or retain a foreign minister who is not acceptable to Its people. Then, too, there was a lingering recollection of the fact that the United States had, about the time of the French revolution, sent homo the representative of the French republic because ho had made himself obnoxious to the people ol the United States. In these cases the demand for the ministers’recall waff rather peremptory, and we did not show the consideration manifested by the Chinese government in refraining from an absolute rejection of Minister Blair, and simply stating that his coming to China in the capacity of United States minister would not be entirely agreeable to the govern* ment of that country. Altogether, the opinion in official circles Is general that [he United States Is, by its own conduct, estopped from resenting Minister Blair's rejection, and that, after waiting for a length of time sufficient to maintain the national dignity, a 1 new minister will be appointed by President Harrison.

Ex-Senator Blair, the new Minister to China, arrived at Chicago on the morning of the 29th ult., and was questioned in regard to the report that the Chinese govtrnmenthad submitted to the Department of State a formal protest against his being lent to China. “I have received no official notice of such a protest'.” said Mr. Blair. "All I know about it is what I have seep In the newspapers. I may be permitted to doubt its correctness for the reason that the State Department knows that l am en call me it would have dono so without delay. I shall not stop here any longer than I originally intended in'order to await official information. If I hear nothing from Washington by to-morrow I shall proceed to San Francisco, and sail from that point. I do not think, of course, that there is any good reason why China should object to me. Neither do I believe that the Chinese government thinks so. During my service in>Congress whatever I did I did from conviction. " Whatever I did in the matter of Chinese immigration also received the indorsement of the government. It is Incredible that any nation would seek to enforce personal liabilities, especially at this late day.” Senator Blair will return to Washington to-morrow. To-night he received a dispatch from Secretary Blaine containing nothing but a request to that effect Mr. Blair did not appear at all unpleasantly affected by the change in his plans, which was, however, something of a surprise to him. “I have no informationTegarding the matter beyond what is contained in Mr. Blaine’s dispatch,” he said shortly after its receipt; ‘‘l can say nothing, therefore, as to the rumor that the State Department has been notified by China that l am a persona non grata, and that in consequence I am to be sent to Japan or Persia. As I have no official knowledge of the cause of my being requested to return to Washington, Fean of course «ay nothing about my future movements. Until one I was not aware that I was not to continue my journey to China. I have my credentials foi the, latter country, and officially I do not knowthatlamnottegotherestill. Even ij the Chinese governmeht has taken the action reported it would certainly be improper for me to discuss its rights to do so, oi the expediency of the act, since, so far ai my official knowledge goes, I am still th< accredited minister. Personally, I do not care a snap whether I go or stay.” Attorney General Miller has received th< report from the United States Attorney a New Orleans on the lynching of the Mafia but will not make it public until after th President’s return.