Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-04-14
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
Secretary Evarts' Report on Negotiations
With China.

WAsHIyGToN, April 12th.--In response to
the House resolution of February 18th last,
calling for information on the subject of the
negotiation with the Chinese Government
concerning the restrictions of Chinese immi-
grafton, the President to-day transmitted to
the House a report from Secretary of State
Evarts in response. After quoting the reso-
luton which was referred to him by the Pres
ident, he says:
The committee resolution of the 25th of February,
1875 requesting the President to open correspond
ence with China and Great Britain, appears to have
been joint resolution which read twice in the
House and then recommitted Ne further action
taken in the House or Senate, and consequently
it has never been communicated TO the President or
referred to this department. No steps, therefore
have been or could have been taken in formal pur-
suance of the requests of the resolution, but the
subiect.matter of the resolution brought to the
attention OF the diplomatic representative of the
United States in China. That Minister was absent
on leave granted to allow him to attend upon
the pleasure of the House of Representatives
| from the Legation at Pekin, from June, 1878,
| to June, 1879. On April %, 1879, when
about return to his mission, he was specially in
structcd that Chinese Ministers in this country
were understood not to have been furnished with
powers instructions to treat in regard to the
ons growing out Of the presence of their people in
California it necessary to conduct negotiations
| on that subject in Pekin. The character of the
Chinese movement toward our Pacific coast and the
|
eved to be conducted, were specially called to his
| attention, and he was informed that the Govern
| ment shared the apprehensons entertained on the
Pacific coast, that social and political arrangement
might result from the excessive increase of thai
| population. He instructed to earnestly impress
on the Chinese Government the groulds of tn an.
prehension and to invite full and frank discussion
/ OF the proper course OF negotiations to relieve it.
But as own people resident in China enjo, many
important treaty privileges, and 1t was desirable
| to work out the results sought without disturbing
the good feeling now existing between the two
| countri mpairing the opportunities of profit
| nuring to the United States under existing
| treaties, he was directed to ascertain with pre.
cision the disposition of the Chinese Government.
| and to give assurances which would enable us to
proceed with such further negotiations as might
| be deemed advisable. No information has as
yet been received which enables me to say more
than that our representations have been accepted
| in an amcabe spirit and with respectful consider.
sonablv anticipated from the negotiations thus
opened and in progress. No communication on this
subject has been had with the Government of Great
| Britain, nor does it that it would be either
useful or opportune to open such a correspondence
until the results of negotiations with China were
more definitely determined, as the only subject OF
such correspondence would be in reference to Ger.
tain practical regulations at Hongkong which is the
chief point OF departure or mmigran, s from China.
While, therefore, in consequence of the interrup.
tion of Minister Stewards residence at Pekin and
the intrinsic gravity and difficulty of the subject
| no new treaty has yet been concluded, nor the ex.
tent to which concurrence between the two Govern
ments may be anticipated has vet been asce tanned
still preparation has been laid for de finite and
conclusive disposition of the matter, under the
| auspices of the Diplomatic Commission, to which
the subject is intended to be committed In this
posture OF the incomplete negotiations, it mani.
festy seems Incompatible with the public interest
to make public the pending correspondence
WM NJ EVARTS