File No. 20866/3.
The department has replied on the subject directly to Mr. Bergholz
and incloses herewith a copy of its instruction.
[Inclosure.]
The Secretary of
State to Consul General Bergholz.
Department of State,
Washington, October 12, 1909.
No. 191.]
Sir: The department is in receipt of a
dispatch from the American legation in Peking transmitting a
copy of your No. 266, of May 26, 1909, with the original
inclosures, in regard to the recognition of the American Chinese
Presbyterian Missionary Society as entitled to American
protection. Your No. 485, of July 22, 1909,1 addressed to the
department on the same subject, is also received.
It appears that this society was incorporated in California in
1908, a majority of the incorporators being described in the
articles of incorporation as residents and citizens of
California. All, however, were of the Chinese race. The society
has appointed as agents in China five Chinese, none of whom is
an American
[Page 68]
citizen. It
has acquired land in China and desires protection as an American
missionary society. You anticipate difficulty in having the
deeds stamped by the authorities there, and request instructions
as to “whether this organization, comprised possibly of Chinese
subjects and whose representatives in China are all Chinese,
and, with the exception of one who is a British subject, Chinese
subjects, can be considered as an American missionary society,
whose property can be accorded the protection of the United
States.”
The attitude of the department on the question of the protection
of American corporations in Chica is outlined in an instruction
to the American consul general at Hankow (No. 100, of Oct. 27,
1908), of which a copy was furnished to the consulates in China
by the legation. This instruction states1:
“The department is of the opinion that the American Chinese
Presbyterian Society, as it represents itself in China, does not
seem to represent sufficient American interests to entitle it to
the protection of this Government, nor does it seem to fall
within the spirit of the provisions of the treaties with regard
to the privileges of American missonary societies.”
The department deems it advisable, therefore, to require more
convincing proof of the citizenship of the incorporators of the
society and of the persons at present holding the controlling
interest therein. And further, in view of the actual situation
in China, it is deemed desirable to require the American
missionary societies to employ American citizens (not
necessarily Caucasians) as their principal and responsible
agents in China if they wish to obtain American protection.
The original inclosures in your dispatch to the legation are
herewith returned.
I am, etc.,
(For
Mr. Knox
.)
Alvey A. Adee.
