Mr. Yang Yü to Mr.
Gresham.
Chinese
Legation,
Washington, D.
C., September 7,
1893. (Received Sept. 7.)
Sir: I have the honor of inviting your
attention to the contents of the telegrams received on the 5th istant
from Mr. Li Yung Yew, Chinese consul-general at San Francisco, and also
from the Chinese Board of Trade at Los Angeles, Cal., which are
inclosed. From the information imparted in these dispatches and from
advices from other sources, it is evident that an effort has been
inaugurated to enforce the sixth section of the Geary law, by the
systematical arrest of large numbers of Chinese residents, who were
entitled to the benefits of registration under the said law. His
Imperial Majesty has been led to believe that no arrests and orders of
deportation of Chinese residents of this class would be made until after
the Congress of the United States should further legislate upon this
subject, so that an opportunity to repeal, modify, or enforce the law
might be afforded that honorable body. Has this policy of the Government
of the United States been abandoned! I sincerely hope it has not.
I would also respectfully say that the Chinese residents are greatly
alarmed at the present attitude of the people toward them in California,
and no doubt have good reason to anticipate violence to their persons
and property as a result of the present excitement, which is entirely
unprovoked on the part of the Chinese people. I have the honor to
request that you take cognizance of these matters yourself, and also,
that through your courtesy His Excellency, the President of the United
States may be informed of the same.
Accept, sir, etc.,
[Inclosure l.]
Chinese Board of
Trade to Chinese
minister.
[Telegram.]
Los
Angeles, Cal., September 6, 1893.
Sir: Proceeding being taken to deport
certain Chinese from United States, one man connected with
mercantile house in Los Angeles, who leased land and hired laborers
to perform the work, he dealing vegetables in conjunction with other
partners in store, ordered deported this morning. Name is Chun Sang
Yuen. Can any action be taken for our protection? Answer.
[Page 256]
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Li Yung Yew
to Mr. Yang Yü.
[Telegram.]
San
Francisco, Cal., September 6, 1893.
The following telegram has just been received:
Twenty and more Chinese arrested to-day for not complying with the
Geary act, and hundred others will follow. Notify the consul-general
and the minister at Washington for our protection at once. Signed
Chinese Board of Trade, by Quong Sang.
Please wire us what you have done in the matter, in order that we may
inform our people here and Los Angeles.
Li Yung Yew,
Chinese Consul-General.
[Inclosure 3.]
Mr. Lung Yew to
Mr. Yang Yü.
[Telegram.]
Sax
Francisco, Cal., September 6, 1893.
The district judge, southern district of California, this morning
ordered deportation of a Chinaman who had failed to register as
required by the Geary act. The district attorney handed the judge a
telegram from the Attorney-General, stating that there were no funds
to deport Chinamen who were arrested for failure to register. The
judge held that the appropriation made by Congress was for the
purpose of carrying out the provisions of the entire act, and that
there is no authority for the segregation of the appropriation to
certain portions, but that the whole must be used for all purposes
until exhausted, and that he had no judicial knowledge of the
latter. One hundred and fifty more warrants will be applied for in
Los Angeles to-morrow, and warrants will also be applied for in this
city. We respectfully ask you to call the attention of the Secretary
of State to this matter immediately. The only redress is to be had
either through the Executive Departments of the Government or
through Congress. The authority of the bill has stated that the
intention of the bill was not to deport our people from the country.
This being true, the Executive Department ought to be able to
prevail upon Congress to give some relief. The Chinese act upon
legal advices and the decision of the Supreme Court, which was a
live to three decision, shows that the advice was given in good
faith. The advice that the law was unconstitutional was given by
Choate and Carter, of New York, and Ash ton, of Washington. Some
relief must be had immediately, or our people will be shipped out of
the country and great loss of property will result.
Li Lung Yew,
Consul-General.
