Mr. Wharton to Mr. Tsui .
Washington , June 1, 1891 .
Sir: Referring to our interview of to-day, and to the copy before me of a telegram of the 29th ultimo, sent you by the consul-general of your Government at San Francisco, I have the honor to say that the Secretary of the Treasury has telegraphed the collector at that port to permit the landing of the two Chinese merchants and the student to whom the consul-general refers.
In view of that part of the consul-general’s telegram which reads:
Collector refuses to land them mainly on the ground that Chinese consuls have no right to issue certificates or passports to Chinese merchants or exempt classes residing at their ports to come to the United States—
I have the honor to suggest that you address to me a formal note, confirming the statement made in your interview with me to-day, that the Chinese Government authorizes the Chinese consuls to issue certificates or passports to the privileged classes, to the end that I may communicate a copy thereof to the Secretary of the Treasury as a basis for general instructions to the collector at San Francisco designed to preclude future embarrassments.
Accept, etc.,
Acting Secretary.