Speech #500101659

Angell and others. announcing their successful negotiation of the treaty. and the other from the proclamation of Mr. Evarts announcing the treaty. The commissioners said: "After our first interview with the Chinese commissioners "I should like attention to this. if it has not been before read"After our first interview with the Chinese commissioners we thought it clear that while tile Chinese Government would recognize the propriety of some regulating discretion as to Chinese immigration on the part of the Government of the United States. it would not consent to its formal prohibition and the absolute abrogation of the provisions of the Burlingame treaty relating to the free intercourse between the people of the two countries. We did not think that the public opinion of the United States would require so extreme a demand. and we considered our instructions as warning us not to disregard the traditional policy of the United States. and in your own words This is addressed to the Secretary of State"to give due weight to the widely diffused. and. so to speak. natural sentiment of our people in favor of the most libersl admission of foreign immigrants who desire to incorporate themselves and their families with oursociety. and mingle the stream of their posterity in the swelling tide of native population. " So the commissioners went there to China disavowing a desire to prohibit. because it would notbein accord with our" traditional policy." When Ir. Evarts came to announce the treaty he said: "The treaty submitted settles the questions raised between the two countries in a manner alike honorable and satisfactory to both. While preserving to the subjects of China engaged in mercantile pursuits. in study. in teaching. or in travel for curiosity. the right of free intercourse with this country. the Chinese Government has recognized in the Government of tle United States the right to regulate. limit. and suspend the introduction into its territory of Chinese labor whenever. in its discretion. such introduction shall threaten the good order of any locality or endanger any interests ofsociety." The Senator from Connecticut further proceeded: It is not put into the preamble here. as it might have been from the treaty. that their coming here would endanger. would affect injuriously the interests ofsociety.