Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-18
THE POLICY OF CHINA.
1t Is Not Believed to Be Definitely
Formulated Yet.
RIPE FOR RETALIATION
Hnt That May Not Be All That 1t viii In
eiude-The Visit of the Chinese Minister
To Secretary Gresham Thought to He in
the Interest OF Peace.

secretary Gresham said. with evident satisfac-
Ton, I'VE had a very pleasant talk" And tina.
vas al ne would say on the subject. From an
other source. however, il was learned that the
Ohlnese minister had assured him that he would
use MS best Offices ''to quiet things in China. s"
fut'lng these things together, persons who are
eiose observers of the Chinese problem argue
mat 1t IL evident that the administration is op-
posed to the Chinese exclusion act and will en-
teavor to secure its repeal, and that the Chinese
minister. upon receiving official assurances to
'nis enect has promised to do his utmost to
prevent nasty and inconsiderate action Of re
taiiatory nature the part Of his government
until the question of providing either for the
repeal or enforcement OF the Geary law shall
nave been determined by tine American Con-
gress.
RIPE FOR TALIATIoy-
There Is no question in regard to the feeling
OF the Chinese government in this matter.
Abundant evidence is at hand to prove that it is
ripe for retaliation and is officially confirmed
IN the minister's promise ''to quiet matters in
China. il possible. The sentiment of the
Chinese powers the present situation is
Clearly expressed BY Rev DR.. f. J. Masters. super
intendent of the Methodist Episcopal missions
on the Pacific coast. in a recent interview as to
the effect Of the enforcement OF the Geary law
He said: Il don't know what the effect of the
law u going to be. but il will mean a black day
for American missionaries and American COM
me-ce- We have broken our treaty obligations
which We solemnly assumed with China We
have broken faith with a heather people TO
whom We sending missionaries OF the
Church Of Jesus Christ. We can't expect China
to treat our people with consideration when we
treat theirs like dogs. China will not make
on this country, but she NAV do one of two
things: She may give the American missionaries
In her dominion. who number more than 600.
twenty-four hours IN which 10 leave her do
mains, with passports to carry them safely over
the border. or she may make life SO unpleasant
In China for Americans that they cannot live
there. Sne may cancel our extra territorial
rights which we now possess. which permit an
American subject to be tried for any offense
only before an American consul
1T il my belief that China will withdraw
these peculiar rights which we now enjoy.
Their we will have no opportunity to secure
compensation or damages for any wrong which
the Chinese may inaict upon u.s."
FORMULATING POLICY.
In spite of the reticence of the Chinese min
fster, 1t is believed by many that China Is rap
idly formulating a policy to meet The present
exigency. Retaliation, it is thought Is only a
part Of this policy. Indeed, it is doubted
whether China will make any attempt to Offset
the threatened deportation Of a hundred thou
sand Of her subjects b. the expulsion from
China of less than thousand Americans mos.
Of whom are missionaries. whose presence is
tolerated chiefly because they teach the Chinese
the English language. and thus improve their
chances of success in business undertakings
which they NAV enter upon after enigrating to
the United States. The policy which shrewd
diplomats believe the Chinese government is
ready to adopt vas foreshatowed in a diplo-
matte note to Secretary Blaine, written by
Tsui Kwo Yin, the predecessor of the present
Chinese minister in Washington. 1t is policy
of reclamation and damages. and its conten-
lions are based upon decisions of the United
States Supreme Court and upon the broad
principles laid down by the best-known Ameri-
can publicists.
In that letter the Chinese minister after
pointing out the untena5le position of this
country on the subject Of Chinese immigration,
said:
QUESTION OF pAMA6Es.
81 have shown you how the legislation of
your Congress, which is considered by the Su-
preme Court to be in violation of the treaties,
has impaired or destroyed the rights and prop
erty interests Of the classes of Chinese laborers
described. well of Chinese subjects entitled
to free transit through the United States and of
Chinese merchants Obstructed IN their business
and denied the privileges extended to those of
other nations. 1 abstain for the present from
presenting any formal estimate of damages and
losses sustained by the above classes Of subjects
through the Legislative infringement of the
treaty shall await your reply to this and the
previous notes Of this legation in the hope that
the wrongful legislation and restoring to their
treaty rights the Chinese subjects now in or
entitled to come in through the United States"
Secretary Blaine made a brief and evasive
reply to this note and the questions under
negotiation are still unsettled
A LETTER FROM THE CHINESE MINISTER
In a letter TO Secretary Foster in November
last. in regard TO the Geary law, the Chinese
minister said: The provisions Of the act of
s II inf
Constitution OF the United States; it is adj
mittet they violate the treaties between China
and the United States. Grave questions as to
the constitutionality of the act Will arise there
fore. for consideration. but inasmuch these
are questions to be presented to another and
coordinate branch Of your government. shall
not discuss them in this communication, and
this reference is made to the subject for the
purpose CT leading up to the presentation of
an important departure in the legislation of the
Congress Of the United States This departure
u found In section of the act The crime de-
nned IN THIS section and the punishment pre-
scrIoed are plainly ex post facto. notwithstand-
Ing the law has been ingeniously framed with
the intention Of avoiding its repugnance to the
Constitution. But desire to direct attention
more especially to the fact that the Congress
has prescribed as a punishment for the nom
compliance with the law what is equivalent to
banishment from the United States; and l wish
20 emphasize the fact that this punishment is
applicable only to nv countrymeu. Il was
surprising TO the imperial government to find
sngrafted In the law of the United States any
such penalty, especially when il has been
proclaimed throughout the world for over 100
years that the United States was an asylum for
the people OF all the nations Of the earth
AsTEP BACKWARD.
In my surprise naturally exclaim IL this
step backward from progress, civilization,
freedom ard liberty? I cannot find words to
express my regret or the regret of the imperia,l
government at the enactment of such a law
which IS applied solely and personally to the
Chinese. large majority Of whom are m
ouestiOnaby lawfully within the United States.
engaged in the legitimate pursuits of life. and
entitled to the protection OF the Constitution
and laws. instead OF the imposition Of s,cb
punishment as It Is attempted to infiict upop
them by the last Congress; and the surprise
must be greatly enhanced when it is considered
that such obnoxio1s and unenlightened pun
khment IS an unwelcOme salute from ono
friendly and favored nation to another which
has at all times and under all circumstances
made aInity, honesty OF intentions and pur-
poses and the sacred preservation of its treaty |
ssipulations the chief object in its relations |
with the United States government. For these |
reasons. and Others heretofore adduced. the |
statute OF 1892 ~ violation Of every principle
81 justice. equity. reason and fair dealing be- |
tween two friendly powers. and its enforcement