Speech #470033390

So our commissioners convinced China that she could safely leave this matter to the justice and good faith of the United States. ilue Chinese commissioners stated what they thought would be fair in the matter of limitation: The Chinese commissioners said they did not intend their proposition to be considered as a substitute for article 2. or in any sense an ultimatum on the part of the Chinese Government. They rather intended it to induce a free discussion of the subject so it should be thoroughly understood. By limitation in number they iiseant. for example. that the UnitedStates having. as they supposed. a record of the nlmber of immigrants in each year ns well -s the total number of Chinese now there. that no more should be allowed to go in any one year in fleture than cither the gieatest number which had gone in tny year in the past. or the least tuober which had gone in any year in the past. or that the total numiler shsuld never be allowed to exceed the numher now there. As to limitation in time they meant. for example. that Chinese should be allowed to go in alternate years. or every third year. or. for example. that they should not be allowed to go for two. three. or five years. That is what the Chinainen wished in this matter.