Minister Rockhill
to the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Peking
,
September 6,
1906
.
No. 389.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith
copies of my correspondence with the American consul-general at Hankow
regarding the adoption by an American of a Chinese baby girl. My opinion
is asked as to whether the child may, through adoption, become an
American citizen, and be taken to the United States and brought up as
any ordinary adopted child of American extraction.
I have expressed my belief that under the present laws a Chinese infant
can not thus become an American citizen, but that possibly the child
could be taken to the United States and there educated under the
privileges pertaining to the exempt classes of Chinese persons.
I have the honor to beg that the department will express its opinion as
to my course of action.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Martin to
Mr. Rockhill.
Hankow
,
August 21,
1906
.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herein the
copy of a letter just received from Miss Carrie M. Ericksen,
together with a copy of my answer thereto.
Will you be so kind as to express your opinion on the subject,
through me, to her, that she may be the better satisfied.
[Subinclosure 1.]
Miss Ericksen
to Mr. Martin.
Dear Mr. Martin: I am writing these few
lines to ask a favor of you. We have under our care a Chinese baby
girl who was thrown out to die by her parents and we want to know if
it is possible to take her with us to the United States next spring.
If so, under what conditions. I wish to adopt her and have her
brought up in my home as an American citizen. Will you let me hear
from you at your earliest convenience, and oblige,
[Page 289]
[Subinclosure 2.]
Mr. Martin to
Miss Ericksen.
Miss Carrie M.
Ericksen,
Sin Tsai Hsien,
Honan:
I am in receipt of your letter dated August 15, 1906, and in reply
would say, that as to your asking whether you can take a baby
Chinese girl into the United States, you having adopted her, as far
as I know it would not be permitted. I will, however, communicate
with the American minister at Peking on the subject, and on
receiving his answer will forward it to you.
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Rockhill to
Mr. Martin.
Peking
,
September 6,
1906
.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of
your No. 218 of August 21, inclosing copies of your correspondence
with Miss Carrie M. Ericksen regarding her proposed adoption of a
Chinese baby girl as an American citizen and asking my opinion on
the subject.
In reply I beg to say that I can find no record in this legation of a
similar case, but I am of the opinion that under the present laws
the child could not be declared a citizen of the United States
through adoption. It might be possible, however, for her to be
brought to America for the purpose of education under the laws
governing persons of exempt classes, but that is not the point upon
which Miss Ericksen desires information.
I have submitted the case to the Department of State, and on
receiving a reply therefrom will immediately inform you of its
contents.
