Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 5, 1892
Mr. Blaine to Mr. Tsui.
Washington , December 8, 1891 .
Sir: I have the honor to inclose, in further reply to your note of 26th October last, relative to the alleged improper interference of Treasury officials with Chinese residing on Whidbey Island, State of Washington, a copy of letter from the acting Secretary, Mr. Spaulding, and of papers therewith, communicating the result of a special investigation on the subject.
Accept, etc.,
Mr. Spaulding to Mr. Blaine.
Office of the Secretary,
Washington, D. C. , December 3, 1891 . (Received Dec. 4.)
Sir: Referring to yonr communication of the 30th of October last, with which was transmitted copy of a note of the minister of China to this capital, and of the petition which accompanied the same relative to the alleged improper interference of Treasury officials with Chinese residing on Whidbey Island, in the State of Washington, I have the honor to herewith inclose for your information copy of a report dated the 21st ultimo, and of its accompaniments from Special Agent C. J. Mulkey, who was instructed to investigate the subject.
Respectfully, yours,
Acting Secretary.
Mr. Mulkey to Mr. Foster.
Tacoma , November 21, 1891 .
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, transmitting copies of a communication of the 26th ultimo, addressed to the Secretary [Page 141] of State by the Chinese minister at Washington, and its accompanying petition in relation to alleged improper interference by Treasury officials with Chinese residing on Whidbey Island, State of Washington, and instructing me to investigate the subject and to sunmit a report of the result with as little delay as practicable. The petition represents that officers of the United States connected with the Treasury Department are in the habit of going among Chinese persons who are engaged in agricultural pursuits on said island and without any warrant issued by a proper court, or without any proof other than mere suspicion, arresting them, and without any evidence whatever taking them before a United States commissioner and there requiring them to furnish white evidence that they are lawfully in the United States and on failure to do so the commissioner orders them deported to China.
Upon making a careful investigation of the matter I have ascertained that the petition in question was instigated and prepared by certain attorneys at Seattle who were employed in the defense of the Chinamen hereafter referred to and that several of the persons signing the same, notably two, whose letters are herewith inclosed marked Exhibits A and B, did so under mistake and misapprehension of the facts; that the only ground for the presentation of such petition exists in the fact that during the month of August last some eighteen Chinese laborers were arrested on said island for being illegally in the United States; that these Chinamen were not arrested on mere suspicion nor without warrant from a proper court, inasmuch as on the contrary they were, after due consultation with Mr. P. H. Winston, the United States attorney for this district, and submission of evidence to him, arrested by Chinese Inspector Munn, upon warrants duly issued by a United States commissioner in the manner prescribed by the statutes; that the said Chinese were from the time of their arrest and until their discharge (eight having been discharged by the commissioner upon the hearing before him and ten by Judge Hanford upon appeal) treated in the same manner as other United States prisoners are treated, and fed with the same rations, and that, so far as I can learn, the evidence upon which the warrants were issued and the persons arrested fully justifies the action of the United States Chinese inspector. The evidence went to show that some of these Chinese were recognized at “Diegalah Bay” while passing on their way to the Chinese quarter of the island from a section where no Chinese are employed, and that they had but recently landed on the west bank, while as to others the proofs indicated that they had been on the island but a few days and that they had not reached there from any United States port.
I may further state that the geographical position of Whidbey Island with its innumerable coves and hiding places and its close proximity to Victoria and other places in British Columbia, renders it a favorable resort for the illegal introduction of Chinese laborers, and that it is without doubt true that large numbers find their way to that island by canoes and small craft at night.
In connection with this matter I inclose a communication addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury by a large number of the citizens of Whidbey Island (Exhibit C.)
Respectfully, yours,
Special Agent.
Mr. Pearson to Mr. Munn.
Exhibit A.
Sir: In relation to a petition, a copy of which I now have, and which I return to you, I wish to say that at the date of signing the petition I was misinformed, and accept your explanation and believe your actions to have been honorable and just.
- Daniel Pearson.
- Mr. C. E. Munn,
Chinese Inspector.
Mr. Gillespie to Mr. Munn.
Exhibit B.
Sir: In relation to a petition to the honorable Chinese minister, signed by me on August 25, 1891, I wish to say that I was misinformed of the facts at the time of signing the same, and believe your actions to have been honorable and just.
- James Gillespie.
-
C. E. Munn,
Chinese Inspector.
Residents of Whidbey Island to Mr. Foster.
Coupeville , November 17, 1891 .
Exhibit C.
We, the undersigned citizens of the United States and residents of Whidbey Island, beg to submit the following facts in relation to a petition signed by eighteen citizens of this island, asking protection for Chinese laborers resident on said island from unjust molestation at the hands of Treasury agents and United States commissioner:
- First. The conditions of facts set forth in said petition of August 25, 1891, are without truth and foundation in every instance.
- Second. To us it is firmly believed that, with few exceptions, at the time said petition was signed, nearly all Chinese residents on Whidbey Island were unlawfully on said island.
- Third. That while we believe in the rights of all residents of whatever nationality, we protest against any insinuations that advantage in any respect was taken in the efforts of the Treasury agents to enforce the provisions of the Chinese restriction act which have occurred on Whidbey Island.
- Fourth. That we believe said petition of August 25, 1891, was drafted at the instigation of certain lawyers, resident in Seattle, Wash., and who have long been employed as the attorneys for the Chinese firms interested in smuggling Chinese laborers into the United States and on Whidbey Island.
- Fifth. That we believe in the honor and integrity of the officials who were interested in the enforcement of the Chinese exclusion act at the time said petition of August 25, 1891, was signed, and heartily indorse their actions as being conscientious and honorable, and strictly in accordance with law and justice.