The Department of State to the Chinese Legation.
The Department of State is in receipt of a despatch dated July 18, 1912, from the American Chargé d’Affaires at Quito, Ecuador, wherein he acknowledges the receipt of the Department’s telegram of July 17th with reference to the protection of the persons and property of the Chinese subjects resident in Ecuador.
The Chargé d’Affaires reports that in the month of April there was a renewal of anti-Chinese demonstration in the coast provinces of Manabi, Los Rios and El Oro. For the most part these were directed against individuals and were promptly reported to the American Legation by the President of the Chinese Beneficent Society of Guayaquil. Each one of the complaints received was taken personally by the Chargé to the Minister for Foreign Relations and the matter was thoroughly discussed in an informal manner.
Dr. Arcos, the Minister for Foreign Relations, on every occasion took the utmost trouble to investigate the abuses reported and showed the Chargé the telegraphic correspondence which had passed between the Minister and the local authorities, which on the part of Dr. Arcos contained instructions that the Chinese were to be [Page 438] given the full protection of the law, and reprimands to those officials who had failed to do their duty either through neglect or personal interest.
An attack of a much more serious nature occurred last month at Chone in the Province of Manabi, where there are located eleven Chinese stores. A demonstration was made by the natives against the Chinese, violence was attempted and some shooting took place. Fortunately, however, no Chinese were wounded. The result has been that the Chinese closed their stores and did no business, as the Chargé states that he was informed, for a period of twenty-two days. At the present the Legation is awaiting documentary evidence of the failure of the local authorities in Chone to properly protect the Chinese in order to lay the matter before the Central Government.
Washington , August 7, 1912.