Yang Yu

Yang Yu, also recorded as Yang Ru or Yang Ju, confronted the consequences of Chinese exclusion soon after taking charge in Washington. In September 1893 he sent Secretary of State Walter Q. Gresham reports of arrests and threatened deportations in California under the Geary Act. He asked for presidential attention, stressing the danger to Chinese residents and conveying information from the Chinese consulate and Los Angeles merchants. ¹

In March 1894, Yang and Gresham signed an emigration convention that continued the exclusion of Chinese laborers for ten years. It permitted certain registered laborers with family, property, or debts in the United States to return after travel and preserved entry rights for specified groups such as officials, students, and merchants. The agreement also addressed the protection of Chinese persons and property. ²

Yang subsequently moved to Europe. In late 1896 he was assigned to Russia, Austria, and the Netherlands when Xu Jingcheng's multiple responsibilities were divided. In July 1898, Yang and Xu signed the supplementary railway contract associated with the Russian lease of Port Arthur and Dairen. ³