Mr. Yang Yü to Mr. Gresham.
Washington , April 24, 1894 . (Received April 24.)
Sir: I have the honor to request your attention to the opinion of the Attorney-General addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury, dated 6th April, 1894, upon the question of the definition of “merchant,” contained in the second section of an act approved November 3, 1893, to amend an act entitled “An act to prohibit the coming of Chinese persons into the United States,” approved May 5, 1892, and also to the orders issued pursuant thereto by the Secretary of the Treasury to collectors and other officers of the customs, dated the 10th and 19th days of April, respectively. In the opinion the Attorney-General concludes “that a Chinese person does not bring himself within the statutory definition of merchant unless he conducts his business either in his own name or in a firm name of which his own is a part.” By the terms of [Page 167] the order of the Secretary of the Treasury of April 10, 1894, the customs officers are instructed to follow this opinion as a guide in the enforcement of the Chinese exclusion laws. Subsequently, however, to wit, on the 19th day of April, the Secretary of the Treasury ruled that Chinese merchants domiciled in the United States, and who departed therefrom prior to November 3 last, may be permitted to land upon submission to the collector of customs at the port of first arrival of evidence sufficient to satisfy him of their identity as such returning merchants.
If this ruling against the return of Chinese merchants to the United States shall be enforced, great injustice will result to many of those persons who are bona fide entitled to reenter the United States and continue the pursuit of their legitimate business, and it may be remarked that, if a similar ruling should be enforced against American merchants in China, a like injustice would be inflicted upon such merchants and their business in that country. I shall not readily believe, therefore, that it is the intention of the U. S. Government, by following the letter of the law, instead of its spirit, to thus destroy, to any extent, the business of this class of Chinese persons, and also to visit upon them at the same time this great personal injustice.
The Chinese merchants in the United States have, for many years, carried on their partnerships in a manner peculiar to their own notions and customs. These partnerships and business relations existed throughout the United States on November 3, 1893. It will scarcely be contended, therefore, that it was the intention of the law in defining “merchant” to destroy, in whole or in part, such business relations of the Chinese merchants by abridging their right to go to China and to return to the United States.
It is a well-known fact that the Chinese mercantile establishments in the United States consist of many members, who, under some fictitious name, carry on their business regardless of the names of the members. The names of the members of these firms can, no doubt, in each instance be readily ascertained and furnished, but not in all probability within the strict terms of the opinion of the Attorney-General.
It is the object of this note, therefore, to bring this important question to your careful consideration for the purpose of adopting if possible some method of protecting the rights of Chinese merchants to return to the United States and pursue their mercantile business, and I wish it distinctly understood that I disclaim all desire to protect any Chinese persons of any class who may attempt by fraud to enter into the United States in violation of law.
In conclusion I will suggest that the names of all Chinese merchants, who are members of firms in the United States, and who are at present in the United States, or absent therefrom and entitled to return thereto, could easily be ascertained through the Chinese consular officers in the United States and furnished to your Government, if by this method the rights of such Chinese merchants could be better protected from the great wrong that is now about to be done toward them.
Hoping that some course may be adopted that will prove satisfactory upon this subject,
Accept, etc.,