No. 55.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Cheng Tsao
Ju.
Washington, March 11, 1884.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 7th instant, relative to a recent certificate which the customs authorities at San Francisco propose to provide for Chinese merchants who are about departing from the United States and intending to return hither, and to say that the subject will have due consideration. To that end I have referred a copy of your note and its accompaniments to the Secretary of the Treasury, whose Department, under the statute, has supervision of the execution of the law of May 6, 1882, to carry into effect the provisions of the treaty of November 17, 1880, between the United States and China, and have asked that he give his careful attention to the arguments advanced by you in opposition to the certificate now proposed, and in favor of that which the Chinese consul-general at San Francisco has heretofore employed in behalf of merchants and other privileged classes under the treaty and law mentioned.
Upon receipt of Mr. Folger’s reply I will take pleasure in addressing you further in reference to the subject.
I am, &c.,