No. 193.
Mr. Evarts to Chen Lan Pin and Mr.
Yung Wing.
Department of State,
Washington, November 23,
1880.
Gentlemen: Referring to previous correspondence
respecting the Chinese steamer Wo Chung, which recently arrived at the
port of San Francisco, and upon which were levied discriminating tonnage
tax and import duties, I have now the honor to inform you, adverting to
your note of the 4th of September last, that the assurances therein
contained, that no discriminations of such tax or other duties are made
upon American vessels or their cargoes in the waters of China, are
accepted as satisfactory by this Government, and that the President’s
proclamation, as provided by the statute, will be issued without
delay.
In this relation I may remark, adverting to the concluding inquiry in the
note of your legation of September 4, that no complaints have reached
this government from its consuls or other American sources in China of
discriminations being practiced in Chinese open ports against the ships
or goods of American citizens.
I avail, &c.,
By the President of the United States of
America.
a proclamation.
Whereas satisfactory evidence has been given to me by the Government
of His Majesty the Emperor of China that no discriminating duties of
tonnage or imposts are
[Page 309]
imposed or levied in the ports of that nation upon vessels wholly
belonging to citizens of the United States, or upon the produce,
manufactures, or merchandise imported in the same:
Therefore, I, Rutherford B. Hayes, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority in me vested by law, do hereby
declare and proclaim that the foreign discriminating duties of
tonnage and impost within the United States are, and shall be,
suspended and discontinued so far as respects the vessels of China,
and the produce, manufactures, and merchandise imported therein into
the United States from China, or from any other foreign country, so
long as the exemption aforesaid on the part of China, of vessels
belonging to citizens of the United States and their cargoes, shall
be continued, and no longer.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal
of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of
Washington
this twenty-third
day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the one hundred and
fifth.
[
l. s.]
R. B.
HAYES.
By the President:
Wm. M.
Evarts,
Secretary of
State.
