PORTER, Acting Secretary to Cheng Tsao-ju, September 19, 1885

Mr. Porter to Mr. Cheng Tsao Ju.

Sir: I have the honor to advert to the Department’s note to you of the 11th ultimo, and with reference to that portion of it touching the application of the second rule of the Treasury circular, of December 6, 1884, in regard to the issuance by United States consular officers of certificates to Chinese subjects, not laborers, about to return to the United States, and your request for a fixed form of certificate to obviate difficulties experienced in the past, I desire to say that I am informed by recent letter from the Treasury Department that there appears to be no objection to the issuance by the consular officers of this Government of suitable certificates to Chinese persons, other than laborers, who, under the provisions of paragraph 2 of Treasury circular No. 7, dated January 14, 1885, are permitted to land in the United States on the production of any evidence satisfactory to the collector of customs at the port of entry, subject, of course, to the two amendments to that circular mentioned in the Treasury circular, No. 7016, of July 13, 1885, by striking out from paragraph 5 the last sentence commencing with the words “or if there be no such Chinese officer,” and by inserting in the first sentence of paragraph 6 the words “at the date of the treaty” after the words “united States.” Under these circumstances, therefore, the Treasury Department is of opinion that no particular form of proof is necessary.

That the situation may be the better understood, I have deemed it proper to append hereto copies of the Treasury circulars No. 174, of December 6, 1884, and No. 7, of January 14, 1885; also a copy of No. 7016, dated July 13, 1885, amending the same, all of which have been kindly furnished by the Treasury authorities.

Accept, sir, &c.,