Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Address of the President to Congress December 5, 1916

File No. 322.93/19

The Secretary of State to Minister Hartman

[Telegram]

Department of State,
Washington, September 12, 1916, 4 p.m.

The Chinese Legation informs Department that it is in receipt of telegram from Chinese Benevolent Association at Guayaquil dated September 8, stating that a law had been presented in the Ecuadorian Congress to place a tax of 1000 sucres annually on all members of Chinese colony in Ecuador. Legation requests good offices of Department in this matter. You may investigate this and should you consider it advisable you may use your informal good offices with the Government on behalf of the Chinese in Ecuador.

Lansing