The Washington times., 1905-06-25
PRESIDENT READY
TO GIVE CHINESE
A SQUARE DEAL
Will Announce His Views
on Question of Ex-
cluslon.
FRICTION WITH METCALF
Peki.l Authorities Believed
to Be Gathering Evidence
for indemnity Suits.
FRICTION WITH METCALF

President Roosevelt has decided to
make public the views of the Admins
traIion on the question of Chinese ex-
clLsion.
IL IS the belief in high official
quarters that it will be a ringing decla-
ration in favor of a square deal for
the Chinese merchant and student, who,
it is charged, are being excluded
through the stringent Interpretation OF
the law by the Department of Commerce
and Labor.
1t is no longer secret that a oe-
c.ded difference eff opinion exists be-
tween the President ana Secretary Met
calf, cf that department. Mr.. Metcalf
is a Californian, and was member OF
the Congress that passed the existing
law. He insists that the la w gives him
70 discretion in the matter OF its en-
forcement. and has told the Pres.dent
that If injustice is to be found therein
that relief must be sought in Congress
Would Nullify Law.
The contention of the trainers of the
present law is that if students and mer-
chants from China permitted 10
enter the United States without the
most rigorous restrictions as to their
coming, the length or time they stay,
and their departure, Chinese exclusion
is a nuility. 1t has lono been DEMON
strated that regular business of deal
ing in certificates or admission has
been carried on in China. and that the
certificates can be purchased by the
wholesale at fcsm Sf9 to $50 a piece
The Threatened Chinese boycott OF
American goods has aroused the COM
mercial and manufacturing erganiza-
ton OF the whole country and the Presi-
dent is being almost deluged with teIe-
grams and letters pleading for a modi-
fication in the execution of the law
BY order of the President this after
noon, the State Department has in
formed the Chinese government that the
United States VIII take such action as
will. it is hoped. remove all objections.
A copy of this message may be made
public tomorrow by the President az the
same time that he defines what the
attitude of this Government is TO be-
Case for Damages.
1t has been made known to the INIT
ed States Government that China re-
CARDS the detention Of Chinese immi-
grants at American ports as violation
of international law, and that China is
entitled to bring heavy claim of dam
ages against this country for each i'm
migrant who is subjected to any inspec-
ton other than that required of all
travellers.
China takes this position on the
ground that there is in reality no treaty
relating to exclusion laws now existing
between the two countries, and that the
only convention which international
law will recognize is the old treaty of
1865 which does not prevent Chinese
laborers from coming to this country
and imposes no restriction whatever as
TO the inspection of travellers.
Gathering Information
The Times is enabled to state on the
best authority that the government at
Pekiu has ordered Chinese officials in
this country to obtain q record OF each
arrest of Chinese immigrants made by
United States officers. and that this
record be sent back TO Pekin, where IL
may be used as basis OF q suit against
the United States.
The total number Of arrests will In
fact. constitute it is said, an Immense
claim for indemnity n~ainst the United
States. The Chinese government feels
that 1t is justified in this course bv the
precedent established in the Bering sea
claims when England forced the United
States to pay heavy indemnity fer each
arrest Of poachers made on the Bering
sea when Congress passed a law author
ing United States officers to arrest
.poachers, though no treaty then existed
between the two countries.
Situation Analogous.
Chinese officials declare that the pres
ent situation is analogous The treaty
under which the rigid exclusion laws
now In effect were enforced lapsed last
December. The treaty had been In ef-
feet for ten years. and was amend
ment TO the old treaty OF 1868, which Is
the only existing convention now stand
ing. When the last treaty expired nego-
tiations were In progress for d new con-
ventfon and China at that time was
seeking to have q milder though not
essentially different convention put into
effect.
The treaty was drafted by Sir Chen
tun0 Liang-Chen9. and its only change
was that relating TO permission for Chi
nese of high position and prominence TO
enter this country without being SUBJ
Jected 10 the rigid inspection now re-
Quired.
secretary Hay approved the original
draft of this treaty. and the Chinese
minister presented II. thinking there
would be no trouble. he having previ-
ously held conferences with the bureau
chiefs in the Department OF Commerce
and Labor When the treaty came into
the State Departments hands, however.
changes were made In 1t which prac-
ticaIly incorporated all the features OBJ
1ectionable TO the Chinese. This was
done because OF the attitude Of Con-
Sress. Exchanges then took place. and
1(,nr,tfn1lad on Second PaYel