Memorandum of a conversation between the
Secretary of State and the Chinese minister.
The Minister (by his interpreter).
Immediately after going to the legation from the State Department a
few days ago, I sent to my Government a dispatch covering the
substance of the interview between the Secretary of State and
myself, and yesterday I received a reply expressing great
satisfaction at hearing that the Secretary did not think there would
be serious trouble growing out of the Geary law and the decision of
the Supreme Court sustaining its validity.
The Secretary. I hope you understood me
correctly in our last interview?
The Minister. I think I did; and that I
correctly reported it. I wish information upon two points. Do you
feel reasonably certain that the Chinese in this country will not be
abused, beaten, wounded, and murdered as in the past; and do you
think the Geary law will at once be enforced?
The Secretary. I am satisfied that if the
Chinese protect Americans in China and prevent assaults upon them,
we will be able to protect the Chinese in this country; but should
Americans in China—missionaries, merchants, and others—be injured in
their persons and property, and the fact become known in this
country, we might not be able to protect your countrymen here. I
told you before and I repeat it again, that the President can not
suspend a law of Congress; that it is his duty to execute the laws,
and, while I can give you no promise that the Geary law will not be
enforced, I can say that, owing to its terms and requirements, its
enforcement will necessarily be attended with some delay. I do not
believe the Chinese will be deported in large numbers between now
and the assembling of Congress, when I have reason to believe there
will be further legislation on the subject.
The Minister. I am very glad to hear this.
Do I understand that no Chinese will be deported between now and the
assembling of Congress?
The Secretary. Some may be deported, but
for reasons, part of
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which
I have given, they will not be deported in large numbers before
then.
The Minister. You told me that some of the
harsh features of the regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury
for the enforcement of the Geary law would be modified, and that,
inasmuch as a validity of that law was doubted by some, the
administration would likely delay efforts at enforcement until the
constitutionality was passed upon by the Supreme Court. I know that
you were candid in that statement, because the regulations of the
old Secretary were materially modified, some of the harshest
features being omitted, and the constitutionality of the law was
submitted to the Supreme Court before any deportations were ordered;
and I believe you are now perfectly candid in your statements. On my
return to the legation I shall take pleasure in sending a dispatch
to my Government expressing my confidence that it may safely rely
upon what you have communicated to me to-day.
The Secretary. May I ask if in your
dispatch which you received from your Government yesterday anything
was said upon the subject of the protection of Americans in
China?
The Minister. The dispatch stated that
there was nothing to justify the belief that Americans in China were
now in danger, and no effort would be spared for their protection
should they be threatened with danger.
