Los Angeles herald., 1905-05-20
LITTLE HOPE FOR
CHINESE TREATY
PENDING NEGOTIATIONS WILL
BE UNSUCCESSFUL
STRONG OPPOSITION IN CHINA
News That Department Of Commerce
and Labor Insists on Interpret
ina Exclusion Law Causes
Resentment
ByAssociated Press

by aAsSoClateu tTeSH.
WASHINGTON, May 19.-All hope
of the success Of the pending negotia-
tions of the new Chinese exclusion
treaty has for the present been aban-
doned by the Chinese officials as a re-
suit of the wave of resentment that
has swept over China since it became
known that it was planned to transfer
the negotiations to Pekin and that the
department of commerce and labor was
insisting upon it's own Interpretation
of the exclusion law. Reports have
reached the Chinese legation of the
extent of this feeling throughout the
Chinese empire and of the hostility of
the Chinese commercial guilds to
American goods which might result, 1t
Is asserted, in general boycott against
American products. even were it possi-
BILE to conclude the exclusion treaty
now.
The Chinese legation here declares
that there is no intention of bringing
suit in the supreme court of the United
States in behalf of the Chinese eX-
treaty of 1888. All such infringements
of that treaty the legation holds to be
diplomatic matters entirely and an ap-
peal will be had not to the courts, but
to the state department. Briefly put,
the position of the legation here. which
reflects that of the Pekin government,
is stated as follows:
THE expiration last December of
the exclusion treaty of 1894 leaves in
force the treaty of 1880. The legation
does not for a moment question the
right or the duty of the department of
commerce and labor to enforce exist
ing laws. The relations of the United
States and China are, however, regu-
lated by treaty and not by laws. and
it is to be expected that any violation
Of existing treaties will be fully COM
pensated for by indemnity.
"AlI Chinese excluded from the United
States or deported therefrom in viola
ton of the treaty of 1880 who present
claims to their minister here naturally
expect those claims to receive careful
consideration. If they are found to be
just they will be presented for settle
ment through the proper channels.
"In the immigration treaty of 1880
article 1 provides that the limitation or
suspension of Chinese immigration to
the United States shall be reasonable,
and shall apply only to Chinese who
may go to the United States as labor
ers, other classes not being included in
the limitation"
The first claim for damages reached
the legation today from a Chinese
merchant arrested in Seattle, and is
now being Investigated.
John w. Foster, former secretary of
state and for long time the adviser
of the Chinese legation, will give the
minister such counsel in the adjustment
of these difficult questions as he may
wish.
Sir Chentung Liang Cheng expressed
keen regret that affairs have taken this
turn. 1t was the hope of the minister
and of Secretary Hay that the fact
that Mr.. Rockhill was to take up the
matter in Pekin would be kept quiet
but this news has leaked out and has
reached China. The opposition of the
Chinese to this proposed move, it is
pointed out here, arises from their be-
lief that the minister at Washington
is far more capable Of knowing the
wishes of the Chinese in this country
than their own government, and that in
negotiating an immigration treaty with
the American minister at Pekin the
Chinese negotiators would be at great
disadvantage.