Mr. Tsui to Mr. Blaine.
Washington, November 27, 1891. (Received November 28.)
Sir: Under date of July 10, 1889, this legation submitted to you a form of certificate proposed to be issued by the Chinese Government in accordance with the provisions of the treaty of November 17, 1880, and section 6 of the act of Congress of July 5, 1884, to enable Chinese merchants and others of the exempt class to enter the United States; and, under date of July 25, 1889, your Department communicated to me the gratifying information that the form of certificate had been examined by the Treasury Department and had been found satisfactory by that Department.
The form of certificate was thereupon forwarded to the Imperial Government, and being approved by it has been sent to the various maritime provinces for the observance of the proper authorities. This legation was informed several months ago by the consul-general at San Francisco that the customs authorities of that port had refused to permit the landing of the holders of such certificates issued by the authorities of Shanghai and viséd in due form by the United States consul-general, on the alleged ground that it was believed some fraud had been practised in obtaining the certificates. As soon as this fact was brought to my attention I at once communicated with the viceroy of Nanking, immediate superior of the Shanghai authorities, asking for a thorough investigation and the severe punishment of the officials who should be found guilty of any frauds in connection with this matter.
By the last mail I received an official reply from the viceroy of Nanking, with a detailed report of the investigation, which shows that the [Page 140] certificates before they were issued had passed through a strict examination and the regular routine, and that no irregularity or fraud had been practiced by any Chinese official respecting the issuing of the certificates. In addition to this I am informed that more peremptory instructions have been given to the authorities to whom are intrusted the duty of issuing the certificates, to exercise the greatest strictness, and orders have been issued to visit with severe punishment any abuse or fraud in connection with this business.
I have, therefore, to respectfully request that you will be so kind as to bring the foregoing facts to the attention of the Secretary of the Treasury, and ask him to instruct the customs authorities of San Francisco and elsewhere to hereafter take cognizance of such certificates as valid, and to give their holders the least trouble possible on their landing, and thereby cause the treaty stipulations between the two Governments to be respected.
I improve the occasion, etc.,