The San Francisco call., 1905-06-13

through and the aspect for American
mannfaetUrSrs is rather gloomy. The
native newspapers are refusing adver-
tisements Os American goods
CALL BUREAU, POST BUILDING,
WASHINGTON. June Z. - Protests
against the severity of the enforcement
Of the Chinese exclusion law were made
10 the President and Secretary Metcalf
today by members Of the American Ash
attic Association and representatives of
the American Cotton Manufacturers
President Roosevelt denied that there was
undue severity in the treatment of Chi
nese by immigration officers. but ex-
pressed his purpose 10 do all in his power
TO promote American trade with China.
Secretary Metcalf plainly intimated TO
the members OF the association that it
was not possible to let down the bars to
any extent in the matter of exclusion.
Members Of the delegation who entered
protests because Of the threatened boy
cott OF American goods in China there
fore got little or no satisfaction from the
interview.
John Ford, secretary Of the Asiatic As
sociaUion, read a memorial to the Presi-
dent and Mr.. Roosevelt said he would
refer the matter 10 the Department of
Commerce and Labor Afterward some
OF the officers Of the association called on
the memorial said:
ar President, the American Asiatic
Association is IN Orga anization formed TO
cooperate with this Government in main
tainlng and defending the trade and
treaty rights Of the United States in the
countries of Eastern Asia.
The occasion Of this visit is to invite
your attention TO the present unsatisfac-
tory relations with the Chinese empire
<,f
which directly threaten the continuance
OF q profitable and highly essential part
OF cur commerce The friendly character
OF those relations has been of late ad-
Versely affected by the absence of a sat
1sfactory immigration treaty between the
United States and China and by the dis
satisfaction Of the mercantile class in
China with what they conceive to be the
unjust and oppressive operation of the
rules adopted and enforced by the inrni-
grafton officers of the United States in
dealing with those of their countrymen
whom our laws declare entitled TO visit
the country.
SEE MENACE TO TRADE.
1t must be held TO be unfortunate that
these laws are at variance with the treaty
stipulations which. since the expiration of
the treaty of lss4, are In force between
the two countries. We are not here to
question the competency Of Congress to
modify the provisions of any treaty with
q foreign power. but we do question the
expediency OF the Government of the
United States occupying an attitude in
opposition 10 the principle which il has
long maintained, that a nation cannot
plead its domestic legislation as a bar to
the observance OF its international obli-
cations.
The treatment accorded by the imn1i-
grafton officers of this Government to the
exempt classes of Chinese visiting our
country is more oppressive than either
the letter or the spirit of the law re-
qUires- Moreover, the plainest principles
of internal conditions demand that the
law shall be made more --beral either
by amendments or by the negotiation of
new treaty or both.
We urge upon you the extreme danger
TO the industrial and commercial inter
ests Of the United States of allowing the
conviction which has been growing for
some time in China to become a fixed
one that our Government tries to dis
courage the coming here of the mer-
chants. students and Hterau of that
country. The future Of that vast and
populous empire is with lie young men,
who have almost ceased to resort to our
schools and colleges for their education
because Of the humiliating ordeal to
which the administration Of our innmigra-
tion law exposed them, and other coun-
Cauffnued m Pa~. q CoIuu- -