Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-11
CENSUS OF CHINESE
STRONG PROTEST. MADE By THE
MINISTER.
State Department Says It Will Con-
tinue Unless Shown to Violate
Treaty Rights.

Strong protest against the taking Of the
census Of Chinese In the United States by
the Department OF Commerce and Labor
was onered In note by Sir Chentung
LANG Cheng the Chinese minister, to the
State Department. which was made public
today IN the Red Book OF the State De-
partment.
This action Is causing much disturb
ance and anxiety among the Chinese II
is understood that this proceeding is not
authorized by any legislation Of Congress-
but is the voluntary action of the executive
department Of the United States" the
Chinese minister's note states. II cannot
refrain from expressing nay surprise at this
proceeding. 1t Is we'll known to the ON
eials OF the Department of Commerce and
Labor that negotiations ara being con-
Quoted between your department ami this
legation for q new treaty, in which this
very question Of new registry or census
Is one Of the matters under consideration.
Under these circumstances such an inde-
pendent procedure that above stated
cannot fail to IMPRESS my government very
unfavorabiy and will not tend to promote
the good understanding that is much to
be desired between the two countries.
Il deem it Is my duty to protest against
the action OF the bureau of immigration and
to ask you to bring the subject to the at
tention OF the President in order that this
impeachment to the continuance of negotia-
tons may be removed by an order to s1s-
pend the further taking of the census or
registry until the negotiations are con-
cluded.''
State Departments Reply.
The State Department replied to this note
that the immigration officials of the United
States were believed to be acting fully
within their authority, as enforcers of the
Chinese exclusion act, In taking the census.
Notes from the department also stated
that unless It be shown that the taking of
such census Is in violation Of treaty right
the State Department woulss.Alot interfere
with such census.
That 1t is the duty of the administrative
officers to make inquiries as to the China
men who are apparently in the United
States In violation of law there be no
reasonable question" one OF the depart
ment notes states.
IF the exclusion acts themselves do not
In literal terms require such action on the
part of said officers, yet the uses to which
the appropriation for the enforcement Of
these laws can be applied. as described In
the words and for expenses Of returning
to China all Chinese persons found to be
unlawfully in the United States. including
the cost of Imprisonment. etc. show plain
ly that the inspection officers are required
to make some sort of an inquiry to ascer-
tain the presence of such persons in this
country.
The taking of the so-called census
amounts to simply preparing record OF
information secured to lawful residents
while making such Inquiries as a necessary
preliminary to carrying into effect the
aforementioned purpose of the law. AS
have already pointed out in the foregoing,
such records serve a protection to
Chinese of the exempt classes.
Protection of the Chinese
The object of securing such a record was
not less to Identify and protect those
Chinese persons who entitled by the
laws and treaty to remain within the
United States than to detect and expel
those not entitled. 1t is probably IN
necessary to enumerate the advantages OF
such accessible record OF Chinese law
fully resident here. as well in securing them
from moiestation, as in facilitating their
admission after temporary departure from
this country On the other hand. cannot
assume that the Chinese minister has any
desire to shield those who are unlawfully
in the United States from the consequences
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