New-York tribune., 1905-06-26
PRIVILEGES FOR CHINESE.
THE PRESIDENT ACTS.
Takes Measures to AUert Threatened
Boucott of american Goods.

facilitate the IdnCinS III VI
of the exempt classes and will eliminate from
the work of the immigration Bureau the ad-
ministratfve features which have been criti-
cised by Chinese. 1t is the intention OF the
President TO see that Chinese merchants, tray-
ellers. students and others of the exempt
classes shall have the courtesy shown
them by officers OF the immigration Bureau as
is accorded TO citizens Of the most favored
nation.
Representa- tions have been made to the Prest-
dent that, in view of the alleged harsh treat
rnent OF many Chinese seeking a landing in the
United States the commercial guilds of China
have determined to boycott American goods.
These representations. backed by the authority
of the American Asiatic Society and commercial
bodies throughout the country. induced the
President to investigate the situation with a
view to remedying any evils found TO exist. The
subject discussed thoroughly by the Cabt-
net. and the President took it UP personally
with Secretary MetcaR of the Department OF
Commerce and Labor. who has supervision Of
the immigration Bureau.
AS result OF the inquiry, orders have been
issued to the diplomatic and consular represen-
tatives of the United States in China by the
President himself that they must look closely
to the performance of their duties under the
exclusion law that members OF the
empt class coming this country have proper
certificates These certificates will be accepted
at any port of the United States and VIII insure
the bearer against harsh discourteous treat
ment. Such treatment win be the cause OF the
instant dismissal of the offending official who
ever he may be-
In addition to the Presidents orders, Secretary
Metcalf has issued instructions to the irnrnigTa-
ton officers which. it is believed. VIII remedy
the trouble of which the Chinese governments
and individuals complain. 1t is believed that ths
prompt action taken by this government will
avert serious trade difficulties between China
and American manufacturers.
THE PRESIDENTS ORDERS.
The correspondence and orders on ths subject
made public to-day by authority OF Presi-
dent Roosevelt. The Presidents orders to the
diplomatic and consular officers Of this country
In China were transmitted through the State
Department. and follows:
The White House.
Washington. june "a, 1908.
To the Acting Secretary of State:
The State Department will Immediately issue
circular to all diplomatic and consular rep
resentatives in China setting forth the following
facts and stating that It is issued by direct
Under the laws of the United States and In
accordance with the spirit Of the treaties nesoti-
ated between the United States and China all
Chinese OF the cody or laboring class-that is.
| all Chinese laborers. skilled unskiIled-arei
absolutely prohibited from coming to the United,
| States, but the purpose of the government of
| the United States is to show the widest and
heartlest courtesy toward all merchants. teach-
| ers, students and travellers who may come to
| the United States, we'll toward ali Chinese
| officials representatives in any capacity Of
| the Chinese government. All individuals OF
| these classes allowed to and go Of
| their own free will and accord, and 70 be
| given all the rights privileges, imInunties and
exemptions accorded the citizens and subjects
of the most favored nation. The President has
| issued special Instructions through the Secre-
| tary of Commerce and Labor that. while 1aborers
! must be strictly excluded, the law must be en-
| forced without harshness, and that all unneces-
| sary inconvenience and annoyance toward those
| persons entitled to enter the United States must
/ be scrupulously avoided The officials Of the
! immigration Department have been told that no
| harshness in the administration Of the law will
| for moment be tolerated, and that any dis-
courtesy shown to Chinese persons by any OH
cial Of the government Will be cause Tor inrneoi-
| ate dismissal from the service
| The status of those Chinese entitled freely
| to enter the United States Is primarily deter
| mined by the certificate provided for under
| Section of the Act of July 8, 1884. Under
/ this law the diplomatic and consular repre-
| tion of the President been instructed befors
| viseing any certificate strictly to comply with
| the requirements of that portion OF Section q
| which provides as follows:
| And such diplomatic representative or cons
/ so required is hereby empowered. and 1t shall
| be his duty before indorsing such certificates as
| aforesaid. to examine into the truth of Tbs
| statements set forth in said certificates, and Il
| he shall find upon examination that said or any
| of the statements therein contained are untrues
| it shall be his duty 10 refuse to fndorse the
same.
MUST RECOGNIZE CERTIFICATES.
| The certificate thus vised becomes prima facie
evidence of the facts set forth therein. The I'M
migration off1ciels have now been specifically in-,
structed to accept this certificate. which is not
to be upset unless good reason can be shown
for SO doing. Unfortunately, in the past 1t has
been found that officials in the Chinese govern-
| ment have recklessly issued thousands Of such
| certificates which We're not true: and reckless
| ness has also been shown in the past by repre-
| sentatiyes of the American consular service In
| yiseing these certificates. The purpose of this
| government is TO make these vfsed certificates
of such value that IL is safe to accept th6rIl
here IN the United States This viii result In
plaint that have arisen. The Chinese student.
merchant or traveller will thereby secure oe1crs
leaving China certificate which Will guarantee
him against any improper treatment .
| But in order that this plan NAV be carried
out Ii is absolutely necessary that the dipFo-l
| matte and consular officers instead OF treating3
their work in viseing these ceruncaIes SIS par
| ftInotory shall understand that this is one OF
| their most important functions They must not
issue any such certificate unless they are satis-,
fed that the person TO whom it is issued is er-s
| titled to receive IT, and they will be held to a.
most rigid accountability for the mannsr mi
| which they perform this duty. II there is reason
| 70 believe that any certificate has been tmprop-
| erly used a thorough investigation Will be mades
| into its issuance The only way in which II tss
| possible while fully carrying out the prov1ssorsS
| or the law against the immigration OF Chdneses
| leborers Skilled or unskled, to secure the fuii-
| est courtesy and consideration for all ChinesA
nersons of the exempt classes such as otficiaiS.
| travellers merchants students and tho Ike, t9
| through the careful and conscientious action OF
our diplomatic and consular representatives ux1,s
der the proposed policy OF the Deparunent OF
the whole administration Of the law; but It,
| cannot he made permanent unless the diplomatic
| and consular representatives DO their iuti duty
and see TO ii that certificate is issued with
| he Cieariv.