US Presidency
1888

On the 12th day of the same month the Chinese minister, who was the plenipotentiary of his Government in the negotiation and the conclusion of the treaty, in a note to the Secretary of State gave his approval to these amendments, as they did not alter the terms of the treaty, and the amendments were at once telegraphed to China, whither the original treaty had previously been sent immediately after its signature on March 12. On the 13th day of last month I approved Senate bill No. 3304, to prohibit the coming of Chinese laborers to the United States. This bill was intended to supplement the treaty, and was approved in the confident anticipation of an early exchange of ratifications of the treaty and its amendments and the proclamation of the same, upon which event the legislation so approved was by its terms to take effect.