Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-24
HOTELS.
UNDERTAKES.
Minister Wu's Reasons Why the En-
cIusiOn LawS Should Not Apply.

tiuS1On Laws should Not Apply.
The President yesterday sent to the Sen
ate series of letters from the Chinese
minister. WI Tin Fang, setting forth rea-
sons why, in the opinion of his government,
the Chinese exclusion laws should not be
made applicable TO the Philippine Islands.
There are five of these letters, the first
being dated February >, 1859, and the last
May I. 1890.
In the first letter the minister says that
for centuries very important intimate re-
lations have existed between China and the
Philippines, owing to their contiguity and
the favorable trade and industrial cOndi-
tons. Commercial intercourse is extern
sive, he says, between the Philippines and
southern China, and the Chinese population
resident there is very large. ln;ermarr!ase
being frequent. The Chinese have he said,
been always welcome. and up to the pres
cnt time there has existed free intercourse
and unrestricted trade He expresses the
hope that this will continue to be the case,
and contends that our Chinese exclusion
laws were enacted solely because of labor
conditions in the United States proper.
The second note of date September II, 1899,
is Il protest against General Otis exclusion
order of September 26. 1S,S In this letter
Mr.. WI complains of the failure Of Secre-
tary Hay to give him previous notice OF
this policy. saving that he had been In
formed that nothing would be done until
Congress should act. He then enters
strongly worded protest against the en-
forcement of the order. las contrary to in
ternatOna! law and comfy. in violation OF
the spirit of existing treaties and in utter
disregard of the friendly relations which
should exist between the two govern
ments. He continues by saying that the
order Is not warranted as a military meas
ure, because it is a departure from the
announced policy of the President to leave
the status of the newly acquired posses
sions unchanged until Congress shall de-
f.r nc he. rli1 fi.n hay
the United States and because it Is a
great injustice to numerous body of Chi
neSe subjects and will disturb the friendly
relations which should be maintained be
tween the governments OF the United
States and China
After recalling the historically close in
tercourse between the Philippines and
China he continues: when by the fortune
into much nearer proximity my government
has seen in this event additional reason
why these friendly relations should become
more intimate and harmonious. 1t cannot
be that the President of the United States
with his exalted sense of justice and his
earnest desire to promote good will among
the nations, will allow military COM
mander to continue to enforce an unjust
and cruel measure against SO large body
of peaceful inhabitants, which cannot fail
to disturb the intercourse with a ne1ghbor-
ing nation which desires to continue and
enlarge their cordial relations with each
other
He closes this communication with an es-
pecial appeal to the President and the Sec
withdrawn.
A communication dated November Is last
Is a protest against the enforcement of
General Otis decree against not only la
exempt class. He says this complaint is
more aggravated than the former, and re-
news his previous protest. asking that In
structions be sent to General Otis ito cease
violation ha-
December IA Minister WI acknowledged
the receipt of a note from the Secretary,
saying that the exclusion order did not ap-
ply to the exempted classes.
The letter Of the 1th instant is a request
for the transmission of this series Of let
tiers to Congress. Il 70