[Inclosure in No. 530.]
Mr. Batcheller to
Mr. Blaine.
Treasury Department, May 14, 1890. (Received May
15.)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 9th instant transmitting a copy of
dispatch No. 1068, dated the 18th of March last, from the United States
minister at Peking, relative to the application of Mr. Alvin F. Howe, a
Chinese subject, for advice as to the mode by which he can gain access
to the United States.
[Page 187]
The minister states that Mr. Howe is a Christian, a physician by
profession, and also an employé of the Methodist mission at Peking; that
he desires to complete his medical studies in the United States under
the patronage of the Methodist Board of Missions; and that he speaks
English very well, and is, in all respects, reputable.
The question as suggested by the minister is whether the certificate of
the Chinese Government, specified in section 6 of the act of July 5,
1884 (23 Stat, at Large, p. 116), without which a Chinese person other
than a laborer can not enter the United States, can be issued by a
dependent authority or local officer such as a “taotai,” who represents,
it is understood, the Chinese Government as chief magistrate in the
district where the applicant resides, and is in a position to certify
the facts satisfactorily.
It is understood that the minister is inclined to the view that such a
certificate would be satisfactory, and would substantially conform to
the requirements of law on the presumption that the local officer has
full authority from the Chinese Government to take action in such
matters.
Upon this presumption, and in view of the difficulty and almost
impracticability of obtaining such certificate from the principal
Government of China, I concur with you in the opinion that the
certificate of said local officer, or “taotai, “properly viséed by the
minister or other consular representative of the United States in China,
would be sufficient in law to authorize the collector of customs at the
port of arrival in the United States of Mr. Howe to permit him to
land.
Respectfully, etc.,
Geo. S. Batcheller,
Acting Secretary.
