Mr. Adee to Mr. Denby.
Washington, July 31, 1897.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 2765, of the 19th ultimo, inclosing a request from the Tsung-li Yamên asking your cooperation to prevent the importation into China of machinery to be used for counterfeiting.
[Page 109]In reply I have to say that your instructions to our consuls will apparently meet the requirements of the case in Chinese ports.
As to precautions against the exportation of counterfeiting machiney from American ports, it is questionable if our laws permit such surveillance over exported goods as would detect machinery of this character. The act approved February 10, 1891, by its second section punishes the possession with fraudulent intent of any die, hub, or mold of a foreign coin. I inclose a copy of that act. Its enforcement lies with the Secretary of the Treasury, to whom a copy of your dispatch will be sent.
Respectfully, yours,
Acting Secretary.