File No. 1132.

The Chinese Minister to the Secretary of State.

No. 77.]

Sir: Referring to the suggestion of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, communicated to me in your note of the 13th of April last, that persons located in other countries than China be empowered by the Government of China to grant to Chinese subjects of the exempt classes, coming from such foreign countries to the United States, the certificates prescribed by section 6 of the act of Congress approved July 5, 1884, I have the honor to inform you, by instructions of my Government, that the Imperial Government has specially designated its diplomatic and consular officers in different countries as officials empowered to issue to Chinese subjects there resident the certificates in question; and that, in countries where China has no diplomatic or consular representatives, the Imperial Government has authorized the diplomatic and consular officers of the United States Government to issue those certificates in its behalf.

I have the honor to request that you will be so kind as to communicate this action of my Government to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor for his information.

Accept, etc.,

Chentung Liang Cheng.