Mr. Olney to Mr. Denby.
Washington, January 16, 1897.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 2650, of November 27 last, calling attention to the difficulty you experience in complying with the provision of the treaty of 1894 between the United States and China, by which this Government agrees to furnish annually to that of China registers or reports showing the full names, etc., of citizens of the United States residing in that country, and recommending that a statute be enacted for the compulsory registration of American citizens residing abroad.
As it would be difficult to secure such legislation, and as there is [Page 91] doubt as to your power to make a regulation for the purpose, it has been deemed the most feasible plan to prepare a circular instruction to our consuls in China calling attention to the requirement of the treaty, and directing them to prepare lists of American citizens residing in their consular districts, showing the full names, age, occupation, and place of residence. A copy of this circular, which also requires transcripts of these lists to be sent both to the Department and to the minister at Peking on the 1st of January of this year, is herewith inclosed for your information.
I am, etc.,