No. 66.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Tsai Kwoh Ching.

Sir: I have now the honor, in connection with the Department’s note to you of October 10 last, relative to the character of the certificate to be issued to the exempted class of Chinese subjects conformably to the statutes of the United States bearing upon the subject and the treaty with China of 1880, to herewith inclose a copy of a circular lately issued by the Secretary of the Treasury, from whom it has been received under date of the 13th instant, prescribing the rules regarding the admission into the United States of Chinese persons of the exempted class under the act of Congress approved July 5, 1884.

Accept, &c.,

FRED’K T. FRELINGHUYSEN.
[Circular relating to Chinese persons coming to the United States.]

To officers of the customs and others:

To promote uniformity in the admission of Chinese persons of the exempt class under the act of July 5, 1884, the following rules are prescribed:

  • First. Chinese persons, other than laborers, who are now or who may hereafter be lawfully within the United States, and who may desire to depart from and return to the United States, may do so on production of a certificate corresponding to that required by section 6 of the act of July 5, 1884, to be issued by a Chinese consular officer stationed within the United States. Certificates issued under the act of May 6, 1882, and decision 6240, before the passage of said act of 1884, are to be regarded as having the same effect as if said act of 1884 had not been passed.
  • Second. Chinese subjects, not laborers, desiring to come to the United States from countries other than China, may do so on production of a certificate corresponding to that required by section 6 of the act of July 5, 1884, to be issued by a Chinese diplomatic or consular officer, if there be one at the port of departure, countersigned by a United States consular officer, or if there be no such Chinese officer stationed at such port, on a like certificate to be issued by a United States consular officer.
  • Third. The regulations contained in decision 5544, and dated January 23, 1883, relative to the transit of Chinese laborers through the territory of the United States, will be applied to all Chinese persons intending to so go in transit through the United States.
  • Fourth. Chinese persons who may be compelled to touch at ports of the United States in transit to foreign countries may be permitted to land, under the regulations of January 23, 1883 (S. 5544), so far as the same may be applicable, such persons to take passage by the next vessel leaving for their destination, or the voyage of which may form part of the route necessary to carry them to their destination.

H. McCULLOCH,
Secretary.