The Chinese Difficulty

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 124, 19 May 1888, Page 2

The Chinese Difficulty

By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright, (.P3B UNITED PEE6B ASSOCIATION.] London, May 16. The St James' Gazette, in the course of an article on the Chinese difficulty in Australia, says that England must accept Sir Henry Parkes* ultimatum, and that the attitude assumed by the Australian Colonies deserves the sympathy and support of England. Most of the papers . advocate the application by Australia of the termsof the American-Chinese treaty as a solution of the Chinese difficulty/ Lord Salisbury has received a" cable message from the Chinese Government protesting against the action of the Australian colonies in excluding; the Chinese. The despatch urges the British Government to impress upon the colonies the necessity of maintaining the existing laws and permitting the Chinese to laud in accordance* with the treaty of obligations between Great Britian and China. The Standard says on the Chinese* question that there is only one course to be pursued by the colonies, and that if the Chinese immigration exceeds the necessities of the colonies they are old enough and should be strong enough to settle the difficulty to their own satisfaction. The Echo, in the course of an article on the Chinese difficulty, says the I colonies must firmly resist any display of shiftiness in the matter on the part of the Imperial Government. Sydney, May 17. In the Supreme Court to-day, an argument was heard on an application to make a rule nisi absolute for a writ of habeas corpus in the case of the Chinese passengers by the Afghan and Tsinau, detained here. The Court held that the Government had no power to detain the men, and that they were illegally kept in oustody, and an order was made bj the Court for their release. The number of Chinese now nnder detention here is 530 The Victoria and South Australian Governments having, suggested that a conference should be held before the colonies in* itiated legislation, are inclined to resent the isolated action of New South Wales on the Chinese.

_ _, May 18. The Government intend to appeal against the decision of the Supreme Court in the oase of the Chinese passengers detained onboard the steamers Afghan and Tsinan, who will not be allowed to land pending the deoision* oi the Appeal Court. Public -feeling in the oity is strongly excited, and a large number of police are being kept" in readiness to quell any disturbance that maj arise.

Mblbotthmb, May 17. The Argus criticises Sir Henry Parkes isolated action against th* Chinese unfavorably. It considers the hasty steps he has taken may have grave^ consequences, involving the whole of Australia, as many may follow the example of hi* precipitated action.