File No. 14413.
The Acting Secretary of
State to Minister Coolidge.
Department of State
Washington, July 15,
1908.
No. 114.]
Sir: I inclose herewith a copy of a note from
the Chinese minister, in which he requests that the American minister to
Nicaragua and the American consular officers in that country be
instructed to continue their protection of Chinese subjects and their
interests in Nicaragua.
Now that Nicaragua has been made a separate mission, it is proper to
renew and confirm to you the instructions heretofore given to Minister
Baker for the use of the good offices of the legation and of the
American consuls in Nicaragua in behalf of Chinese subjects residing in
Nicaragua in the absence of a Chinese representative in that
quarter.
You will accordingly take under the protection of the legation at Managua
Chinese subjects and their interests in Nicaragua in the way pointed out
in instructions Nos. 470 and 535,1 dated, respectively, July 3, 1896, and February 6,
1897, to Minister Baker. Copies of those instructions are inclosed
herewith. You will give the consuls in Nicaragua the appropriate
instructions in the premises.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
The Chinese Minister
to the Secretary of State.
Imperial Chinese Legation
Washington, July 1,
1908.
No. 7.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you
the contents of a petition which I have recently received from my
people who are residing at Bluefields and other cities of Nicaragua,
Central America.
It seems that ever since the year 1894 unfriendly legislation has
been passed by the Government of Nicaragua against my people, at
first only prohibiting the landing of new arrivals, and subsequently
even refusing admission to merchants who had returned to the
homeland on visits. A recent law demands the payment of $100 from
every Chinese departing from the country and $500 on his reentrance.
In several other ways the subjects of our Empire have been harassed
and unfavorably treated.
At the request of my Government the interests of Chinese subjects
residing in Nicaragua have been placed, by permission of your
Government, under the protection of your diplomatic and consular
representatives in that country, who
[Page 662]
have exerted good offices on their behalf, but
with the lapse of time and the change of officers the relations
between the representatives and my people have not been as intimate
as they were before.
I shall deem it a favor, therefore, if you will issue instructions to
your diplomatic and consular representatives to continue the
friendly protection of the Chinese residents in Nicaragua which was
so ably and thoroughly undertaken by their predecessors. Whatever
steps they may take to remove the harsh legislation against my
people and to ameliorate their conditions will be heartily
appreciated by my Government.
Accept, etc.,
