No. 56.
Mr. Hunter
to Mr. Seward.
Washington, September 11, 1876.
Sir: your dispatch, No. 110, under date of the 19th July last, with inclosures relative to passports for Americans traveling in China, has been received.
Your general views on this subject are judicious, and are approved.
The statutes of the United States require a fee of $5 for each passport issued. This must be complied with.
The statutes also confine the power of issuing passports in a foreign country to the principal diplomatic representative of the United States in that country, when there is such representative. Consuls can issue passports only when there is no such diplomatic representative in the country.
The form of passport prepared by you seems to be appropriate. In order to avoid the inconvenience which would follow the necessity of sending to Peking for every passport which may be required at remote ports, it might be arranged that the minister sign a certain number in blank, to be countersigned by the consuls, thus observing the requirements of the statute.
The minister in issuing to the several consulates a certain number of blanks thus signed, will, under regulations which he must establish, require an accurate report of the issues, with details as to the individuals to whom issued, the dates, &c., and a return of the fees. The minister should be required to report to the Department the number of such blanks issued, and the consulates to which they are issued, and the consuls should be instructed to report to the Department, immediately on their receipt, the fact, and the number received, as well as to acknowledge their receipt to the minister. The consuls should also be instructed to report quarterly to the Department all passports issued by them, with full particulars. The instructions to the consuls must be dependent upon the result of your action in the premises.
I am, &c.,
Acting Secretary.